Draft analyst discusses Bears' Caleb Williams, Justin Fields decision

Much will be made ahead of, during and possibly after the upcoming NFL scouting combine about whether the Chicago Bears should use the first overall pick of this year's draft to replace starting quarterback Justin Fields with USC Trojans star signal-caller Caleb Williams.

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller sounds convinced the Bears have an easy choice on their hands. 

"Caleb is my No. 1 player in this draft," Miller told ESPN's Courtney Cronin for a piece published Monday. "No one else is taking that spot."

New Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron revealed during his introductory news conference last week he's already exchanged messages with Fields. Waldron added at that same time that he would adjust his offensive scheme "to the (quarterback's) skillset," but the coach was sure to make no guarantees about who will be the club's QB1 this summer. 

Mock drafts produced for ESPN, CBS Sports and Walter Football routinely predict the Bears will grab Williams with the first pick. Meanwhile, stories have linked Fields with potential moves to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders. 

"I think the Bears have a great opportunity to get a franchise quarterback and then a game-changing wide receiver to pair him with and stay young and cheap on the offensive line," Miller said about the Bears possessing overall picks No. 1 and No. 9. Specifically, Ryan Wilson and Chris Trapasso of CBS believe Chicago could take Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth selection. 

It's thought that the Bears theoretically could draft Williams but still hold onto Fields so that the 24-year-old could start ahead of the rookie later this year. With that said, Fields' employer must exercise or decline the fifth-year option for 2025 attached to his rookie contract by May 2. 

Per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, Fields' option will cost roughly $25.664M in guaranteed money. 

"It'll be important that Chicago has a framework in place for him," Miller added about Williams. "I think it really helps them that they've got Ryan Poles as general manager who was in Kansas City and watched some of the guardrails that the Chiefs put up for [Patrick] Mahomes, so that he could be great and be creative but still have the early success, because he did have a good scheme and system around him."

Mahomes spending the bulk of his rookie season sitting and learning as a backup behind Alex Smith proved to be a genius move for the Chiefs. If, however, it's true that Chicago could get a second-round draft pick and a fourth-round draft choice in return for Fields, Poles may decide he can't pass on acquiring those assets for somebody who would be surplus to requirements with the Bears.