After the Chicago Bears traded away quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's evident the storied franchise has opened the door for USC quarterback Caleb Williams to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick.
While this is arguably the best quarterback prospect in years, perhaps since Andrew Luck, the Bears should still consider bringing in a bridge quarterback to ease Williams' transition into the NFL. That quarterback should be free agent Carson Wentz
The beleaguered veteran spent the bulk of last season without a team. That is until the Los Angeles Rams came calling and signed him as a backup. With Matthew Stafford already manning the offense, this signing gave Rams head coach Sean McVay the task of turning around the career of Wentz, who was the MVP runner-up in 2017 and looked like the quarterback of the future during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was a similar project to the one McVay took on with Baker Mayfield just one season prior. Mayfield ended up playing some of his best football with the Rams late down the stretch and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he led the NFC South team to the second round of the playoffs just one year after Tom Brady retired.
This former MVP-candidate quarterback would be a perfect signing for the Chicago Bears.
Wentz was no different. In the Rams season finale, Wentz looked five years younger and had a great outing against the San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl-level defense.
After stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders that resulted in below-average play, sloppy turnovers, and questions surrounding Wentz's ability to play quarterback in the NFL, he successfully turned it around.
A bridge quarterback like Wentz would be great for the development of Caleb Williams. It's almost a sure thing that the 2022 Heisman will be drafted by the Bears with the first overall pick. Every mock draft is projecting this, including NFL.com.
The Bears haven't had a chance at a quarterback this talented in a long time. It's crucial they develop him the right way and provide him with all the tools necessary to succeed. By signing Wentz and letting him lead the offense for the first handful of games next season, they can sit Williams and let him start when he's ready.