The Chicago Bears reached the final leg of their journey to the 2024 draft. Caleb Williams, the presumptive #1 overall pick, visited Halas Hall this week. It marked the first time the Bears were able to get him in for medical examinations, which he chose not to do at the scouting combine. Word is they also ran him through various mental and physical drills, testing his limits as a player. They worked him hard on the field, seeing where his conditioning was at. Then they put him on a whiteboard, gauging his ability to absorb and retain information.
Here is where it gets fun. The Bears also hosted Williams for a private dinner to continue getting to know him. As usual, it featured the expected people like GM Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, and other key team brass and coaching staff members. However, Marc Silverman of Waddle & Silvy on ESPN 1000 revealed there was an added twist.
I’ve covered the NFL for many years. This is the first time I’ve ever heard a team had current players present to meet with a draft prospect. If that isn’t a dead giveaway Williams is the pick at #1, nothing is.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Chicago probably wants Caleb Williams to know his teammates.
It is a safe assumption the players present at the dinner were various members of the offense. Probably the wide receivers like Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore. Maybe Cole Kmet and some offensive linemen. These will be the men Williams is tasked with leading when he arrives a few weeks from now. The sooner he gets to know them, the faster their chemistry will build. The Bears deserve credit for taking this approach. They know the locker room is probably still subdued after losing Justin Fields, who many loved.
This would serve as a great icebreaker, allowing them to meet with Caleb Williams more intimately. They can see for themselves why the organization loves him and sees his potential as a franchise quarterback. Such an open avenue of communication is a reason why Poles and Eberflus have managed to maintain a stable locker room through some difficult times over the past two years. They believe Williams is the final piece to the puzzle. If everybody in that locker room embraces him, this team could get good in a hurry.
