Vikings Rivals Seem Set on Their QB Prospect
Josh Frey
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For the second consecutive year, the Chicago Bears come into the spring with the No. 1 overall pick.
While they traded away the selection last spring, this year, the Bears seem set to select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. If it wasn’t obvious already, Chicago seems to be set on which QB prospect they will select in just under three weeks.
Vikings Rivals Appear to Be Zeroing in on Their QB
On Thursday afternoon, Ian Rapoport reported on NFL Network, “Caleb Williams’ visit schedule is [one]. He had the Chicago Bears. That was yesterday. He was in the facility yesterday, actually had dinner the night before with Bears brass, and my understanding is several veteran players and younger players were also involved in what seems like more of a meet and greet, get to know you introduction rather than a full evaluation by the Chicago Bears.”
This outcome has always felt as the most likely scenario at the top of the draft. After Chicago traded Justin Fields earlier this spring, it at the very least seemed certain that the Bears would opt to select a quarterback with the first overall rather than moving out of that spot as they did the year before.
Rapoport continued, “I think it’s very clear that Caleb Williams would in fact like to be in Chicago despite a whole bunch of commentary and speculation otherwise. It does seem that the Bears are honing in on Caleb Williams. Obviously, nothing firm, no announcement, nothing official, but it seems like the direction they are heading now, and it seems like Caleb Williams also would like that.”
Williams seemed destined to be a very special prospect as soon as he stepped on the field at the collegiate level with the Oklahoma Sooners back in 2021. He played 11 games as a true freshman, completing 64.5% of his passes for 1912 yards, 21 TDs, and just four interceptions.
Following that campaign, Williams transferred to USC, following his head coach, Lincoln Riley, to the program. As a member of the Trojans program, he put together 8170 yards, 72 TDs and 10 interceptions over the course of 26 games.
Williams is a magician as a passer with the ability to create plays out of structure and make accurate passes at all levels of the field. In addition to his passing ability, he is well equipped as a rusher, and he added an additional 21 rushing touchdowns during his two seasons at USC. As a result, it makes sense that he would be the successor to Fields in Chicago.
Now, it appears that the Minnesota Vikings will have the headache of having to gameplan against the QB twice per season for at least the next few years.
The 2024 NFL Draft is slated to get started on Thursday, April 25th.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Sports Reference CFB.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.