Mel Kiper Jr. believes Bears should draft Caleb Williams with No. 1 pick

The Chicago Bears have plenty of options heading into this year’s NFL draft. Chicago holds the No. 1 and No. 9 overall picks, giving them the choice of taking whoever they want or trading one of those two picks for assets.

The Bears also have a quarterback in Justin Fields who is coming off of a strong season and could be a valuable trade asset in his own right.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently shared his thoughts on what the Bears should do with the top pick.

“If you trade Justin Fields to Atlanta, you could get the 8th pick overall. So you have 1, 8 and 9 and be able to recoup a second-round pick by trading down with one of those two picks,” Kiper said. “So a lot of maneuverability for the Bears. … But if it’s me, I’m taking Caleb Williams No. 1 and trading Justin Fields.”

It’s no surprise that Kiper believes the Bears should select Caleb Williams with the top pick.

Kiper has Williams at No. 1 on his big board and has raved about Williams as a prospect for the past couple of years.

He recently wrote this about Williams in his big board breakdown: “Williams is a fabulous playmaker, and there are “wow” throws all over his tape, even going back to his freshman season at Oklahoma. He’s incredible escaping the pocket and making off-platform throws, excelling when plays break down. His improvisational skills are off the charts.”

While the Bears have options at No. 1, Kiper is clear about which direction he thinks Chicago should go.

More on former USC quarterback Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, despite not having the junior season that most expected him to.

Williams passed for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns, with five interceptions this season. He added 11 rushing touchdowns.

Those numbers are obviously excellent, but they do not rival last year’s stats when Williams won the Heisman after passing for more than 4,500 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Prior to coming to USC, Williams started his career at Oklahoma. During the 2021 season, he passed for 1,912 yards and 21 touchdowns, while playing a limited number of snaps.

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.