USC Football: The Athletic Projects Caleb Williams’ Draft Fate

The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is heading to the windy City in The Athletic's latest mock draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft is a little over two months away, and by all indications, USC Trojans star quarterback Caleb Williams will be a top pick. 

Many mock drafts from different outlets have Williams going from first overall to fourth overall. In the Athletic's latest mock draft, by senior writer Nick Baumgardner, he has the 2022 Heisman winner heading to the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

In another year, the

Justin Fields

era probably rolls on.

But it’s not another year

. Since taking over in 2022, GM Ryan Poles has added talent via the draft and trades, so today’s reality is that Chicago’s roster is ready for Williams in ways it wasn’t for Fields in 2021. The offensive line is better, the defense is better — and there’s a chance to add more.

-Nick Baumgardner, via The Athletic

Williams is the clear choice at number one. He possesses all the tools to be an elite-level quarterback at the pro level. He garners the comparisons of peak Russell Willson and the skill set of three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes. 

The 22-year-old has tremendous arm talent, can go off-script and throw off-platform and on the move, is an elite playmaker, and possesses excellent accuracy.

He'll be a great player from the start, especially with a great organization. Whether that is the Bears, we'll have to wait and see. Nonetheless, the Bears have a solid defense and good weapons on offense, and with an elite quarterback on their way, they should be even better. 

Williams to Chicago seems like the most popular option. We'd have to wait and see if the Bears want to start all over or if they'll give their quarterback Justin Fields a shot to be their QB1.