USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the presumptive top pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft, but rumors have swirled for months that he might not want to play for the Chicago Bears, who hold the No. 1 choice.
But all the online speculation about whether Williams would refuse to play for the Bears appears to be exactly that and nothing more: speculation.
At least according to Williams.
During a recent interview, Williams spoke about potentially being selected by Chicago and flatly shut down the rumors.
“If I get drafted by the Bears, I’ll be excited,” Williams said, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “If they trade the pick, and I get drafted by someone else, I’m just as excited. Speaking about Chicago, they have a talented team, a talented offense and defense. For anyone to be in that situation, I think they’d be excited.”
Williams went on to make it absolutely clear that he doesn’t intend to ask for a trade if he’s selected by the Bears.
“I’m not pushing any agenda,” Williams said. “At the end of the day, the Bears have the last say. Regardless of how I feel, I’m not pushing an agenda of, ‘Yeah, I want to go. Or no, I don’t want to go.’ I’m excited for whatever comes.”
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From the sound of it, Williams appears ready and willing to suit up for whatever franchise acquires his draft rights. And for both the Bears and their fan base, this almost certainly adds to an already intriguing situation, as 2021 first-round pick Justin Fields remains on the roster, with his future in limbo.
Williams is coming off a season in which he threw 30 touchdown passes, rushed for 11 scores and tossed just five interceptions. Those numbers were actually down from his 2022 Heisman Trophy-winning campaign, a season in which he accounted for 52 combined touchdowns (42 passing, 10 rushing) with five interceptions and threw for 4,537 yards.
