Bears mock draft reaction: Is Caleb Williams the right call at No. 1? Is a QB?
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus presented the game ball to the entire team after its 12-10 win against the Minnesota Vikings on “Monday Night Football.”
“A new beginning right here,” he said.
But quarterback Justin Fields interrupted Eberflus before he could finish. Fields had something to say.
“Those two fumbles, bro, appreciate you all,” Fields said. “I just wanted to say appreciate y’all for sticking by my side, believing in me ...”
He said some more and his Bears teammates cheered him on.
It was all captured by the Bears’ social media team in the locker room. General manager Ryan Poles was at Eberflus’ side and team president and CEO Kevin Warren was front and center next to cornerback Jaylon Johnson .
Fields fumbled twice in the fourth quarter, but the defense provided him with one more chance to deliver a win, which he did.
“For him to stand up there and do that in that moment, I think that’s special and it says a lot about his character and about his leadership,” Eberflus said a day later on Tuesday at Halas Hall. “It was really neat to see. And the response of the guys was also really cool to see, too. That was a cool moment.”
As much as everyone looks ahead to what’s next for the team, the Bears appear to be behind Eberflus and Fields. That could change in a few weeks. But that’s what we see right now with the Bears at their bye week.
In Dane Brugler’s first mock draft , he has the Bears taking USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick. The Bears can thank the Carolina Panthers for that opportunity. But will they do that? As always, there is a lot to get through. Here’s our take on Brugler’s projections.
Round 1, No. 1: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Should the Bears take a quarterback No. 1 or trade back again?
Kevin Fishbain: The answer to this might have been more obvious earlier in the season, but we’ve got a little recency bias to consider. Fields finally made the big-time, clutch throw to help the Bears get a win Monday night. He played well the previous week against the Detroit Lions . He continues to show not only his potential but also his limitations with turnovers and some missed throws, not to mention the time he’s missed because of injuries. I’m not sure what more we will learn over these final five games, but does it matter? This is supposed to be a once-in-a-GM’s-lifetime opportunity to draft a quarterback. Can Ryan Poles pass it up for a QB who still has question marks? I do wonder, too, whether someone like Jayden Daniels or Bo Nix makes it easier to not take a quarterback at No. 1, but there’s no guarantee you’d get one of them, either.
Adam Jahns: They should take the best player in the entire draft: Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. And then the Bears can trade their second first-round pick if gaining more draft capital is a goal for Poles. It won’t net nearly as much as the first pick. But Harrison looks too darn good to pass up. Drafting him would help any quarterback. Plus, he appears to be a safe, can’t-miss pick. You just know he’s going to be a good NFL receiver with All-Pro potential. The evaluation of him is really that simple. It’s not the same for the quarterbacks right now. My thought process could change in a few weeks. But improving the entire roster — including the personnel around Fields — seems like the best path to take for a team that needs more blue-chip difference-makers.
If they stay at No. 1, Williams or Drake Maye?
Fishbain: It will be hard to ignore these, but in their evaluations of the quarterbacks, the Bears can’t factor in how Williams’ fumbling compares with Fields’. Or the fact Maye went to the same school as Mitch Trubisky . Poles, the Bears’ scouting staff and coaches have to simply look at the body of work in a vacuum and decide which one is better, should they decide to take a quarterback. There seem to be some things that Williams can do that very few quarterbacks can do. Despite USC’s struggles this season and his turnovers, the talent is still undeniable. Someone is going to take a shot with Williams and know they’re getting someone with a lot of potential. I lean toward him right now over Maye.
Jahns: How about neither? Just select Harrison with the first pick. He’s the best player in the draft. Just take him. There is plenty to like about Williams, Maye, Daniels and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. But there is even more to like about Harrison. Drafting him would be investing in another premium position. Receiver is not as important as quarterback. But it’s even more important that Poles gets this pick right from the get-go, especially if he’s sticking with Eberflus.
This is a different scenario if Poles fires Eberflus after this season. If that happens, Poles should explore aligning the Bears’ next coach with the next quarterback. This is where conversations about the draft get complicated. The Bears have to decide whether to keep Eberflus and his coaching staff first.
So, if you’re making me choose between the two quarterbacks, I’d go with Maye right now. And I reserve the right to change my mind. It’s only December. I covered Williams’ worst game this season at Notre Dame and arguably Maye’s best against Duke. Those games don’t make for full evaluations on the QBs. The debates are just getting started. But Williams’ struggles on the road against a good defense stuck with me more than Maye’s heroics against a rival. Williams didn’t play like the “generational” quarterback he was made out to be before I went to see him in South Bend, Ind. Poles and co-director of player personnel Jeff King attended Williams’ loss to Notre Dame, too.
Round 1, No. 4: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Is there any question about whom the Bears would take in this scenario, or at least which position?
Fishbain: With Harrison off the board, it seems like a no-brainer to go offensive tackle here, but I also think this would be a prime trade-back opportunity. This will depend a lot on Poles’ evaluation of left tackle Braxton Jones . The Bears would be in a great situation if they can continue starting a fifth-round pick at left tackle. Jones had a solid game against the Vikings. But, like quarterback, Poles will have an opportunity to upgrade the position with a top-five prospect, and maybe the top offensive tackle in the draft — Alt or Penn State’s Olu Fashanu. Based on mock drafts we’ve seen to this point, No. 4 would be too early for an edge rusher.
#NotreDame LT Joe Alt was really good last year, but he's been even better so far in 2023. His balance, hand control and recovery are A+ traits.Really fun watching him get better and better and better. pic.twitter.com/mBX8Pa0Iuq
— Dane Brugler September 28, 2023
Jahns: Trading back feels like a real option if the draft falls this way. The New York Giants , Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders could be in play for quarterbacks. Brugler has the Buccaneers taking Daniels at No. 7. What if the Raiders want to jump them and the Giants? Poles likely will be looking to add a second-round pick after trading one to the Washington Commanders for defensive end Montez Sweat. If not, drafting the best offensive lineman or the best defensive lineman on the board fits with how Poles wants to build his team. At this point, the Bears’ need at pass rusher outweighs the concerns at offensive tackle. The wild card would be Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. He doesn’t play a premium position, but, similar to Harrison, they’re looking at a safe pick with All-Pro potential and one who would help any quarterback. Brugler had the New York Jets taking Bowers at No. 8. Can you imagine a Bears offense that features Fields, Harrison, Bowers, receiver DJ Moore , tight end Cole Kmet , right tackle Darnell Wright and guard Teven Jenkins ? That could be something.
(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / )
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