"Caleb Williams' First Impressions on the Justin Fields trade
Over a month has passed since the Chicago Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional 2025 sixth-round draft pick. This move paved the way for the Bears to potentially select a quarterback with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, with many anticipating USC's Caleb Williams will be that choice.
As the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and a long-projected top pick, Williams seemed a likely candidate for the Bears after they acquired the number one selection from the Carolina Panthers. Despite this, there was ongoing debate about whether the Bears should have retained Fields and traded down to gather more draft assets. The decision to trade Fields clarified the Bears' strategy to everyone, including Williams himself.
In a conversation on the Pivot Podcast, Williams revealed his initial reaction to the Fields trade. «My phone explodes,» he recounted. He made several calls to discuss the implications, realizing the Bears were committed to a new direction. «It was kind of like �wow',» Williams admitted, noting the surprise came despite not having completed his top-30 visit or shared his medical information with the team at that point. Although the Bears had yet to host Williams for his top-30 visit scheduled in April and he had only formally met with them at the NFL Combine, he sensed he was their target.
Since the trade, there has been significant communication between Williams and the Bears, with reports suggesting a mutual satisfaction. With the draft approaching, it seems almost certain that Williams will be holding up a Bears jersey alongside NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, marking a new chapter for the team after parting ways with their former quarterback in March.
| POLL | ||
20 AVRIL | 74 ANSWERS "Caleb Williams' First Impressions on the Justin Fields trade Do you agree with the Bears' decision to trade Justin Fields? | ||
| Yes | 45 | 60.8 % |
| No | 29 | 39.2 % |
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