Bears take Caleb Williams with No. 1 pick in NFL draft

The Chicago Bears selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Williams has been locked into the No. 1 spot for the entire draft process. Chicago cleared the path for his arrival by trading 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in mid-March.

After transferring from Oklahoma, Williams solidified himself as a potential future No. 1 selection when he won the Heisman Trophy in his first season with the Trojans in 2022. Williams finished with 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns against five interceptions in 14 appearances.

The 22-year-old couldn't match that lofty standard in 2023, failing to make the top 10 in Heisman voting. But Williams still produced 3,633 yards and 30 scores against five picks in 12 games, and his place as the first overall pick was never in doubt.

Williams will be tasked with becoming the franchise quarterback the Bears have long been searching for. Chicago is the only NFL team that's never had a 4,000-yard passer despite its 103-year history.

The former USC star will be dropped into a strong position with the Bears thanks to a top receiver duo in D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, who the team acquired from the Los Angeles Chargers in March. Chicago's offense also contains tight end Cole Kmet and running back D'Andre Swift.

The NFC North club will have a chance to further improve the team around Williams with the No. 9 pick.

Chicago owned the No. 1 pick thanks to a blockbuster deal with the Carolina Panthers last season. Carolina acquired the top selection from the Bears in the 2023 draft to land quarterback Bryce Young, sending a package that included its 2024 first-rounder and Moore.

Pre-draft profile

Williams' final season in college was a bit of a roller coaster, but there should be little doubt about his status as an elite QB prospect and the clear No. 1 player in this draft. The USC superstar demonstrates many of the abilities that separate the true game-changers from the rest in today's NFL. He can make any throw on the field, and that threat becomes even more dangerous with his innate feel for extending plays and making magic off-script. There's some risk with his play style, as holding onto the ball and occasionally forcing it downfield can create opportunities for negative plays. But how much of that all-or-nothing approach was the product of a disastrous USC offense? We're betting that it was quite a bit. There's a real chance that an improved offensive infrastructure at the next level will unlock an even better, more refined version of Williams. That should be a scary thought for NFL defenses.

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