ESPN draft experts explain why Caleb Williams makes sense for Chicago Bears

With the Chicago Bears potentially set to have two top-five picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, their own as well as the Carolina Panthers’, the expectation is the team will take a quarterback with one of those premium picks. Even with the Draft six months away, USC quarterback Caleb Williams appears destined to be the No. 1 overall pick.

Should the Bears own the pick, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid believes general manager Ryan Poles should make the decision to select Williams.

“I think you have to take Caleb Williams,” ESPN analyst Jordan Reid recently said. “I know they’re invested in Justin Fields, they put a lot of resources into that receiving core this year bringing over D.J. Moore, drafting Darnell Wright No. 10 overall who’s shown some promise. But whenever you get a talent like Caleb Williams, I just don’t think you can pass it up. Yes, I know Justin Fields — he showed a lot in that Washington game. I think that was one of the better games that he had in the season, but I just think Caleb Williams is just so far ahead of Justin right now as far as a prospect.

“We don’t know what he’s gonna be on the NFL level, but you get to reset the financial clock with Caleb Williams and I think that’s one of the biggest positives. But also, Ryan Poles and his regime — they did not draft Justin Fields so they don’t have any ties to him. So I’m gonna go with Caleb Williams right now, and I just think it’s a pick that makes sense. And now you get to auction off Justin Fields to whoever potentially needs quarterback help as well.”

Is Caleb Williams the best player available in 2024 NFL Draft?

Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, remains the top prospect even as the Trojans have dropped back-to-back games to No. 14 Notre Dame and No. 13 Utah respectively. The 21-year-old has thrown for 2,277 yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions on 70.0% passing. He’s added 149 yards and seven scores on the ground.

The Bears, meanwhile, remain led by Fields, their 2021 first-round pick out of Ohio State. Currently sidelined with a thumb injury, Fields has guided the Bears to a 6-25 mark in 31 starts over the past three seasons. Given that Williams carries a reputation as a “generational prospect” at the position, it seems unlikely the Bears wouldn’t pull the trigger on him barring a turnaround from Fields down the stretch this season.