Commanders haven’t called Bears about trading for No. 1 pick (yet)

The Chicago Bears hold the golden ticket in the 2024 NFL Draft. The first overall pick is expected to be USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who began the 2023 college football season as a talent worthy of tanking for. And with so many teams in need of an answer at quarterback, it’s expected GM Ryan Poles will receive record-setting offers over the next few weeks.

One team that’s predicted to be interested in Williams is the Washington Commanders. Williams is a D.C.-area native, and with Sam Howell floundering his chance to prove he’s the Commanders’ QB of the future, combined with Kliff Kingsbury joining Washington’s staff as offensive coordinator, the dots to a trade offer for Caleb Williams are very much connected.

At least, we think so. According to Commanders Senior Advisor Doug Williams, there hasn’t been any communication between the Bears and Commanders about a trade. It doesn’t mean there won’t be, and perhaps those talks will ignite during the 2024 Scouting Combine. But as of now? There’s no trade on the horizon.

Check out Williams’ comments below:

Have the Commanders talked to the Bears yet about the #1 pick?

Commanders Senior Advisor Doug Williams:

?@nflnetwork? ?@BuckyBrooks? pic.twitter.com/UoRoJwscXo

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) February 9, 2024

Remember: it’s very early in the trade process. However, I don’t think it’s early in the Chicago Bears’ scouting process, and I have a hunch Poles is nearing a final decision about what to do with the first pick. This means he’s nearing a point in which trade negotiations will commence, and I think they’ll involve Justin Fields.

Yes, meetings with Caleb Williams at the Scouting Combine and personal visits in the run-up to the draft can make Poles change his mind, but I don’t think there will be any crazy revelations between now and the Combine or in the weeks that follow that disrupt the inevitable.

If the Commanders want to move up for Williams — even just one spot — they’ll have to pony up. Big time. But it doesn’t sound like they’ll be willing to, which further advances the Williams-to-the-Bears narrative.

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