The Chicago Bears find themselves at the center of the NFL’s second-most significant question, trailing only the inquiry of the next Super Bowl champion – specifically, who will claim the top spot in the 2024 draft? General manager Ryan Poles has a considerable timeframe of almost three months to make this crucial decision. He must weigh the option of selecting a player or entertaining potential offers from other franchises in exchange for significant returns.
On Monday, February 5, ESPN’s Adam Schefter, speaking on the “Pat McAfee Show,” reported a prevailing sentiment across the league. According to Schefter, there is a widespread consensus that Poles has already leaned towards selecting Caleb Williams as the first pick. This forecast doesn’t augur well for the Bears’ current starting quarterback, Justin Fields. If Chicago holds firm to the selection, the organization is expected to draft USC quarterback Williams. Consequently, there is a growing belief around the NFL that Fields may become available on the trade market in the weeks ahead.
Schefter emphasized, “The feeling around the league seems to be that they’ll wind up trading Justin.” The uncertainty remains about whether this speculation will materialize, but it appears to be the prevailing sentiment in the league.
Jeremy Fowler, also from ESPN, provided a similar report following the Senior Bowl on February 3. Fowler noted that the general consensus among NFL executives is that the Chicago Bears will retain the top pick and opt for Caleb Williams. According to Fowler, “Most people I talked to in Mobile expect the Chicago Bears to make the pick at No. 1, presumably for Williams.”