USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Caleb Williams has optimistic outlook on Bears situation

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 3/1/24

The one downside to being the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft is that, in most cases, you are going to the worst team in the league that is potentially years away from contending.

However, former USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, doesn't see it that way if he goes first overall to the Chicago Bears.

During his Friday meeting with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine, Williams expressed optimism about the Bears' situation.

USC QB Caleb Williams on Chicago: “The Bears were a 7-10 last year, and that’s pretty good for a team with the No 1 pick. A really good defense. It’s pretty exciting if you can go to a situation like that.”
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 1, 2024

He is not wrong about that.

The only reason the Bears have the No. 1 overall pick this year is that they received Carolina's first-round pick as part of last year's trade for the top pick. Carolina moved up to No. 1 to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and then finished this past season with the worst record in the NFL.

That gave the Bears the top pick despite winning seven games and hanging around in the playoff race until late in the season.

They also have the ninth overall pick.

If the Bears handle this offseason correctly, they could turn things around in a very short period. Not only did their defense show rapid improvement after acquiring Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders at the trade deadline, but they also have nearly $80 million in salary cap space to work with (the third most in the NFL) and have two top-10 picks.

That does not include the additional draft compensation they could receive for trading current quarterback Justin Fields.

The Bears have reportedly set an outrageously high price for this year's No. 1 pick, strongly indicating they intend to select Williams and make him their new franchise quarterback. It would be awfully difficult to have the No. 1 pick two years in a row and not select a quarterback either time. You must be completely confident your current quarterback is the long-term answer. The Bears have little reason to believe that three years into Fields' career.

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