We polled GMs, scouts and execs from 22 teams to find out if they think the Bears will draft Caleb Williams at No. 1 or deal the pick.
INDIANAPOLIS — The buzz about what Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles will do with the No. 1 pick in April’s draft grew so loud at the NFL combine this week that he put his phone on «Do Not Disturb.»
But that didn’t mute the speculation over whether Poles will draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the top pick or trade it and build around incumbent starter Justin Fields.
«You need a franchise quarterback,» said an NFC player personnel executive who expects Poles to draft Williams. «This opportunity doesn’t come around every day.»
ESPN polled representatives of 22 NFL teams and asked two questions:
Do you think the Bears will take Williams with the first pick?
Do you think they should trade the pick and build around Fields?
The combination of general managers, coaches, scouts, player personnel staff and other front office executives believes by a 18-4 margin that the Bears will select Williams with the first pick April 25.
For the second question, the tally was 17-5 against trading the pick and building around Fields. One NFC college scout believes the Bears will draft Williams, but he thinks they should bring Fields back for a fourth year.
«It’s not even a debate,» an AFC player personnel executive said. «Trade him to Atlanta for two third-rounders and keep it moving.»
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Online sportsbook DraftKings has been offering odds on Fields’ next team since early February. The Falcons’ odds were as long as 6-1 on Feb. 13, but rumors began circulating early this week, at one point causing DraftKings to pull the market off the board, according to a DraftKings spokesperson. On Wednesday, DraftKings reopened the market with the Falcons as -425 odds-on favorites to land Fields.
«It seems inevitable at this point,» one NFC scout said of the likelihood the Bears will draft Williams.
Poles said Tuesday he wants to resolve the situation «as quickly as possible,» because he understands the uncertainty is uncomfortable for Fields.
«I wouldn’t want to be in that situation either,» Poles said.
