The NFL Scouting Combine concluded on Sunday, with the leading takeaway being that the Chicago Bears were trending toward trading quarterback Justin Fields and selecting Caleb Williams with the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
That was the premise of Albert Breer's latest for Sports Illustrated. Breer detailed the Bears' vetting process of Williams, which included multiple meetings last week in Indianapolis. The Bears met with Williams on Wednesday of last week in a meeting with all of the team's top offensive coaches and team president, Kevin Warren. Still, a new tidbit from Breer revealed that the team met with Williams' camp on Friday night.
"Williams checked that box. The next one came Friday night, when the Bears brass got a chance to sit down and meet with the quarterback’s team, as a precursor to the 30 visit."Albert Breer via Sports Illustrated
Breer also reported that the Bears originally planned to have their pre-draft visit with Williams at Halas Hall this Tuesday but will have the visit shortly after the quarterback's USC Pro Day on March 20.
When Williams met with reporters this past Friday, it was obvious that he won the day, and it's beginning to look as if the quarterback prospect has won over the Bears' organization.
One of the final boxes for the Bears to check is the decision that there is no return from trading Fields. Breer continues to report that general manager Ryan Poles has put the Bears in a position to trade Fields in "the coming days" but did not rule out the team waiting until there is clarity on the free agency statuses of Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield.
Any fear of disagreement between the Bears and Williams' camp likely can be put to rest now. The Bears are moving in a direction where Williams will be the team's next starting quarterback.