How Caleb William Has Commandered the Bears Mock Draft World

Bears mock drafts long ago settled on Caleb Williams for the Bears at No. 1, but now he's influencing their second pick in Round 1.

Caleb Williams long ago became the odds-on favorite for first pick to the Bears in this draft but he also influences the second pick. / Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

At least according to the mock drafts, Caleb Williams remains the hub of the Bears draft world regardless of their need for edge rush help.

It's a prevalant thought, though definitely not unanimous in the mock draft world.

Josh Edwards of CBS Sports expresses the thought the best in his most recently updated mock from over the weekend. He has the Bears taking Rome Odunze at ninth overall, like many others in mock drafts have.

"There is never enough that can be done to support a young quarterback," Edwards wrote. "The Bears keep throwing resources on the offense as Rome Odunze pairs nicely with D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen."

It's all about Williams, and making him a success. This much is reflected in the April 1 mock by The 33rd Team's Ian Valentino.

It's a somewhat shocking pick, the player and not the position. Valentino agrees with the need for another receiver to help Williams but envisions Malik Nabers falling to the Bears instead of Odunze.

The 6-foot, 200-pound LSU receiver is coming off a remarkable pro day when he ran 4.35 seconds in the 40 and had a 42-inch vertical leap. Most had him as second receiver in this draft but some even have promoted him after Marvin Harrison Jr. blew off all pre-draft workouts.

"The Chicago Bears' trade for Keenan Allen seemingly made this pick a potential trade target if wide receivers fell," Valentino wrote. "ESPN's Kris Rhim reported Allen's next deal is expected to be considerable. The Bears only gave up a fourth-round pick for Allen, so he might be a one-year rental in 2024. That means adding a long-term star at receiver is still in play."

Nabers might be more explosive than any receiver in the group.

"His open-field speed and agility resemble Tyreek Hill's, and Williams would love to have this type of playmaker," Valentino wrote.

With another mock aimed at helping out Williams, Pro Football Focus' Arjun Menon has a different receiver in mind and a move for the Bears to make. He has them trading back to No. 11 and getting a third-round pick at No. 90 in return.

Then they get an LSU receiver but it's not Nabers, who is gone by No. 11. It's his teammate Brian Thomas Jr., who actually ran faster and did it under the pressure of combine eyes (4.33).

"Step 1: Draft Caleb Williams; Step 2: Surround him with the best situation possible," Menon wrote.

He points out "spotty" depth behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.

"Thomas instantly fixes that and gives Chicago a future WR2 if they can't come to terms on an extension with Allen," Menon wrote.

It's not a unanimous view. Some see the need for pass rush help as big. NFL.com's lead draft writer Erik Edholm has the three top receivers going before the Bears pick, but Dallas Turner sitting there available for the taking.

Instead, he says the Bears will draft Jared Verse.

"Why Verse over Dallas Turner?" he writes. "Just a gut feeling here, but GM Ryan Poles appears to like bulk and edge-setting ability in his pass rushers."

This definitely is a viewpoint coach Matt Eberflus has expressed even more than Poles. It's his scheme that requires ends to set strong edges and not sell out on the outside rush.

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