NFL Executives Predict Chicago Bears Will Select USC Quarterback Caleb Williams with Top Pick in 2024 Draft
One year ago, NFL executives were speculating that the Chicago Bears might trade their first pick in the draft. As it turns out, they were right. This year, however, the sentiment from NFL front offices is that the Bears will use their top pick, acquired from the Carolina Panthers, on USC quarterback Caleb Williams. This prediction comes after conversations with six executives during and after the scouting combine.
Last year, these executives correctly projected seven of the top 10 players selected in the draft. However, there were a few surprises, with three players landing in the top 10 without appearing in the initial projections. This year, the consensus among the executives is that quarterbacks will be selected first, followed by offensive linemen and wide receivers. Only a couple of defensive players made it into the projected top 10.
Based on these conversations, here is a rough top 10 list:
1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
All six executives agreed that the Bears would select Caleb Williams as their quarterback of the future. They also predicted that the Bears would trade their current starter, Justin Fields. While there were concerns about Williams’ tendency to hold onto the ball longer than ideal, the consensus was that Chicago should not hesitate in making him their top pick.
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Five out of six executives had Jayden Daniels going to the Washington Commanders as their quarterback. One executive initially had Drake Maye in this spot but later changed to Daniels. There were concerns about Maye’s mechanics, which led to the majority of executives favoring Daniels for this pick.
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Every executive agreed that the New England Patriots would select a quarterback in the first round. While Maye was not necessarily the top choice for the Patriots, he was selected by default. One executive thought that the Patriots would prefer Jayden Daniels, but Maye was still a viable option for them.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
There was no consensus on who the Arizona Cardinals would select with their pick. However, the majority of executives believed that the Cardinals would address their defense and select Dallas Turner, an edge rusher from Alabama. Turner’s impressive performance at the scouting combine solidified his position in the top 10.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Four out of six executives projected an offensive lineman for the Los Angeles Chargers. Joe Alt was considered the safest and most complete tackle available. The executives believed that the Chargers needed to protect their quarterback and provide a solid run game, making Alt the logical choice.
6. New York Giants: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
While there was a consensus among the executives that the New York Giants would select a wide receiver, there was no clear favorite. Marvin Harrison Jr. emerged as the top choice for four out of six executives, but Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers also received votes. The Giants were in need of offensive line help, but they had recently invested high draft picks in that position.
7. Tennessee Titans: Olu Fashanu, OT, LSU
Four out of six executives believed that the Tennessee Titans would select an offensive lineman. Olu Fashanu was considered the best option to replace Taylor Lewan at left tackle. However, one executive thought that the Titans would prioritize pass rush and select Jared Verse instead.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
The executives generally believed that the Atlanta Falcons would address their quarterback situation through free agency or trade. However, if they were to select a defensive player, Jared Verse was seen as a strong option. One executive even speculated that the Falcons might trade up to the first pick to select Caleb Williams.
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
With their second pick in the top 10, the Chicago Bears were predicted to select Rome Odunze, a wide receiver from Washington. The executives felt that pairing Odunze with Caleb Williams would provide a strong offensive combination for the Bears.
10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
While none of the executives believed that selecting a tight end in this spot would be the best move, two executives projected Brock Bowers to the New York Jets. However, there was strong pushback against this idea, with one executive calling it “malpractice” to select a tight end when offensive line help was needed.
These predictions are based on conversations with NFL executives and provide a snapshot of their expectations leading up to the draft. However, as the draft nears and coaches become more involved in the process, these predictions may evolve. It will be interesting to see how closely these projections align with the actual draft results.
