Details On How The Bears Are Vetting QB Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bears are expected to draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears sent a large contingent to Williams’ Pro Day earlier this week, a group that included general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Details have since emerged over the Bears’ week-long vetting of Williams.

The Bears traveled to Southern California two days earlier, on Monday, ahead of Wednesday’s Pro Day. The Bears’ contingent had dinner with Williams according to a report from Brad Biggs. Additional scouting work done on Williams included spending extra time with him at USC’s facility while watching film on the 2023 offense. Members of Chicago’s brass even attended a private hangout party with Williams in West Hollywood.

Inside story on how the #Bears spent parts of 3 days with Caleb Williams, a process that will lead them closer to choosing him No. 1 overall.

– A private dinner with USC teammates

– A half-day on the white board & with film

– And the pro day

Details https://t.co/niSo6gjLYu

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 20, 2024

“It was great,” Williams said recently via The Athletic’s Antonio Morales. “I didn’t really need to learn much. Just building a relationship. They’re trying to see if I’m the right fit to be first pick as QB and possibly be the face of the franchise. They’re trying to figure out if this is the guy they should invest all the time, energy and effort and money into, which is obviously important in this situation. So it was great building relationships.”

While league-wide sources feel it’s a foregone conclusion that the Bears will draft Williams with the No. 1 overall selection, the franchise is ensuring that they’re properly going through all the motions. Spending additional time with Williams before Wednesday’s Pro Day likely gave Eberflus, Poles and Co. a better idea of Williams’ personality behind the player. That’s crucial when making a franchise-altering decision like drafting a quarterback.