Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams’ expected trade value, revealed

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Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams’ expected trade value, revealed

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Jul 17, 2026 2:29 PM ET

Caleb Williams isn’t going anywhere. The Chicago Bears are not going to trade the 24-year-old quarterback after an incredible 2025 campaign. Williams completed 330 passes for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns. From 68 sacks in 2024 as a rookie, that number plummeted to just 24 last season.

The former USC standout led the Bears to their first NFC North title since 2018 behind a 11-6 record. With Williams under center, the Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round, marking their first playoff win in 15 years.

Simply put, Williams firmly established his status as Chicago’s cornerstone quarterback.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) reacts to a score against the Philadelphia Eagles.

ESPN rates Caleb Williams’ trade value

NFL analyst Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently published a hypothetical list of players on each team that would require at least one first-round pick in a potential trade. In Barnwell’s estimation, Williams would be worth no less than four first-rounders.

“Williams’ status as a high-end prospect and the growth we saw from him in Year 2 still point toward the player out of USC being an incredibly valuable NFL quarterback,” Barnwell wrote. “As a 24-year-old with three years of cost control remaining, Williams is going to be worth much more than a lone first-round pick.

“I would argue that he lands somewhere between Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels, but I suspect that there’s a wide band of opinions about all three and how they should rank.”

To emphasize, the Bears are not considering moving Williams. He is their quarterback of the future, and the organization is intent on giving him a big-money extension once he is eligible after this upcoming season.

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This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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