The Chicago Bears, by most accounts, seem dead set on selecting USC blue-chip quarterback prospect Caleb Williams with their overall no. 1 pick in the first round of this year’s NFL draft. But that doesn’t mean that HAS to happen.
The Washington Commanders, who will draft right behind the Bears in the no. 2 slot, have reportedly been eyeballing the DC-area native, Williams, since he was in college and would also seem likely to pick the highly-regarded, possible franchise-altering prospect in a heartbeat if he was made available.
Because of this, many analysts and media experts have tossed out ideas involving a trade between Chicago and Washington that would have the two teams swapping their draft picks.
A Workable Chicago Bears-Washington Commanders Trade?
In the latest mock draft trade proposal, Alex Kay of Bleacher Report tosses another a Bears-Commanders deal into the pile– with a possible twist.
In his trade idea, Kay has the Bears selecting Williams with their no. 1 pick and the Commanders picking North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye at no. 2. Then, the two teams would swap players, with Chicago acquiring some added draft picks to sweeten the deal.
All in all, Kay has the Bears getting Maye, a 2024 third-round pick (no. 67), and a 2025 first-round pick for Williams.
And why would the teams trade the players rather than the picks, themselves?
Because, according to NFL analyst for The Ringer, Ben Solak, trading away a draft pick slotted for a quarterback and then taking another quarterback in the very next spot, “would send the wrong message to both that quarterback and the team.”
Bears-Commanders in a Modern-Day Eli Manning-Philip Rivers Deal?
So, instead, the teams would swap Williams and Maye, similar to the Eli Manning–Philip Rivers trade back in 2004.
Per Solak:
“Also possible: The Bears stay at no. 1, draft Caleb Williams, and subsequently trade him to another team later in the draft. Think of the Eli Manning–Philip Rivers trade in 2004. The Chargers selected Manning with the first pick, even though Manning had made it clear to the Chargers he didn’t want to play there, prompting San Diego to trade him to the Giants for fourth overall pick Philip Rivers—along with a third, a future first, and a future fifth. Would the Bears draft Williams even if they favored another quarterback, like Drake Maye—and then force Washington to send a future first and some extra capital on top to swap the players? I’m not ruling anything out.”
This idea of the Bears and Commanders trading picks is nothing new. Many media voices have tossed around the idea.
Other Bears-Commanders Trade Ideas
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report proposed a deal between the teams that would have Washington sending their no. 2 pick and a second-round pick this year for Chicago’s no. 1 pick.
Brad Gagnon, also of Bleacher Report, has the Bears sending over their no. 1 pick for the Commanders’ no. 2 pick, a second-round pick this year, and a third-rounder in 2025.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, meanwhile, offered up the most optimistic deal for Bears-minded people, envisioning a scenario where Chicago trades their overall top pick to Washington for the Commanders’ no. 2 pick, a second-round pick, and a 2025 first-round pick.
Having said all this, however, it looks highly unlikely that the Bears will move away from Caleb Williams, either via trade or draft pick swap. Williams is being touted as a generational talent and already drawing comparisons to legends such as Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
But, if there’s one thing we know for sure about the NFL, it’s that anything is possible. We’ll all just have to wait until the NFL draft on April 25 to see how it all plays out.