The Chicago Bears’ headline story has been locked in since it was first confirmed that they’d be getting the overall no. 1 pick in this year’s NFL draft. Would they or would they not draft USC blue chip Heisman award-winning quarterback prospect Caleb Williams with that top spot?
A related side story has been whether or not Chicago would trade that highly coveted top spot in this April’s draft for a haul of veteran and/or draft talent to further beef up the roster and fill existing holes. That proposition is not such a tall tale, since Bears general manager Ryan Poles did just that last year when the team also had the overall no. 1 pick.
In that deal, Chicago traded their pick to the Carolina Panthers for the Panther’s first-and second-round picks (Nos. 9 and 61) in that year’s draft, along with a 2024 first-round pick (which turned out to be the overall no. 1 pick this year), a second-round pick in 2025, and wide receiver DJ Moore.
Well, this year, the consensus opinion among experts is that the Bears will keep their top of the tops pick, trade current QB Justin Fields, and draft Williams, intent on acquiring a franchise quarterback they can build around and create a winning dynasty in Chicago.
But the vocal minority of Caleb Williams non-supporters has been making its case heard in recent days, bolstered by concerns over negative expert assessments of the young QB’s game and mental makeup, as well as Williams’ perceived aloofness is dealing with the Bears thus far.
Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels a Better Fit for Chicago Bears?
Jason Owens of Yahoo! Sports recently wrote about North Carolina’s Drake May being the ideal quarterback fit for Chicago.
Per Owens:
“Maye’s the complete package, possessing an ideal combination of size, athleticism, arm talent, intelligence, leadership and aggression. He presents a compelling case for the Bears to move on from Fields if that ultimately ends up being the decision. If there’s a tie-breaker between Maye and the 6-1 Caleb Williams, Maye’s 6-4, 229-pound frame could end up being it.”
Mike Santa Barbara of Yardbarker concurred that Williams is not the man for Chicago, but opined that LSU’s Jayden Daniels makes the most sense for the Bears.
Per Santa Barbara:
“Daniels continues to climb the draft board. Although inconsistent at times, he’s showcased absurd athleticism and a dynamic deep ball that could make him an elite weapon for a quarterback-needy team. Per PFF, he was the only QB to grade above 90 in offense, passing and rushing.”
Bears Trading No. 1: For What and To Whom?
But if the Bears did opt to draft Maye or Daniels as a “best fit” option, as Owens and Santa Barbara suggest, then they wouldn’t really need that overall no. 1 draft position. They could move down to no. 2 or no. 3, maybe even 4 or 5, and still get Maye or Daniels. So, that would mean that they could deal that no. 1 pick to one of the teams immediately behind them.
The Washington Commanders, with the pick right after Chicago, have been the team most mentioned as a potential top-of-draft trade partner. With a strong desire for a franchise quarterback and an apparent affinity for DC-area native Caleb Williams, who worked closely at USC with their new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Washington is said to be very interested in getting the player most often tied to the Bears right now.
But what would it take for Washington to get the no. 1 (and, therefore, Williams) from Chicago?
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, in a mock draft scenario, opined that Chicago’s no. 1 would cost Washington their no. 2, a second-round pick this year, and a 2025 first-round pick.
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report wrote that the Bears could get Washington’s no. 2 pick, their second-round pick this year, and a third-round pick in 2025 for the top draft spot.
In either scenario, the Bears get a high-end quarterback prospect (or WR Marvin Harrison Jr. if they decide to hold on to Justin Fields) and some valuable draft capital.
The odds are in favor of Chicago doing the expected and drafting Williams with their no. 1 pick, but time will tell if the Bears front office feels that the “expected” is in the best interest of the team.