Rumor: Commanders 'Very Interested' in Bears Trade for No. 1 Pick to Draft Caleb Williams

If the Chicago Bears trade the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders may be on the other end in order to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

Jeremy Brener | Dec 28, 2023

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Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders have been flying up draft boards over the past month and a half with a six-game losing streak.

While the losses have effectively ended the Ron Rivera era in the nation's capital, it may have set the team up for success in the future.

Going into Week 17, the Commanders are in line for the No. 3 overall pick, which may not be high enough to get the player they truly want, but it positions them to trade up for the projected No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, who just so happens to be a Washington D.C. native.

"There's some thought around the league that Washington is very interested in Caleb Williams, a Washington, D.C., native who's the strong favorite to be picked first overall," ESPN's Dan Graziano writes. "The Commanders, with a break here or there over the next couple of weeks, could find themselves in position to either draft Williams or trade up a spot or two to get him."

The Bears hold all the cards and will be the first domino to fall in the offseason quarterback carousel. In all likelihood, Chicago will have a trade to make ... either dealing Justin Fields to pave the way for Williams or parting ways with the No. 1 pick to get some more draft capital.

There's a school of thought that suggests the team should move Fields over the top pick.

Commander Caleb? Could Washington Draft USC's Williams?

"Many people around the league believe Chicago should just take USC's Caleb Williams and start over," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes. "But Fields has made this decision difficult with his toughness, work ethic and playmaking. He has shown some growth over the past five weeks, and he's very well liked in the locker room."

Chicago has the inside track for the No. 1 pick this season after trading out of the top selection last year with the Carolina Panthers, who went on to select Bryce Young from Alabama. Young and the Panthers have struggled this year, winning just two games and holding the worst record in the NFL.

If Chicago opts to trade the top pick for the second year in a row, Washington may be the top suitor on the list willing to make a trade.

Published Dec 28, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.