Patrick Mahomes addresses if Chicago Bears would be making a mistake passing on Caleb Williams
USC quarterback Caleb Williams is projected by a vast majority of evaluators to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With the generational talent drawing comparisons to Patrick Mahomes in the process.
Comparisons to Mahomes are surely lofty ones, as the two-time NFL MVP is currently in pursuit of his third Super Bowl victory and Super Bowl MVP award this Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers. But the two do resemble one another in the way that both passers are able to extend plays and make seemingly all of the throws at every single angle and platform.
During a Super Bowl LVIII press conference this week, Mahomes was asked if he believes the Chicago Bears would be making a mistake by not selecting Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Making it clear that he prefers his job as an NFL quarterback over working in a league front office.
“I’m glad I don’t get paid to make those decisions,” Mahomes said before being reminded that the Bears passed up on him in the 2017 NFL Draft.
“Yeah I know, but Justin Fields plays great football as well and so I’m glad I’m not paid to make those decisions. But I think either way they’re in a great position for the future and it’s just about which way they want to make that decision,” Mahomes added.
Chicago and eight other teams passed up on the opportunity to draft Mahomes in 2017 before Kansas City traded the No. 27 overall pick, a third-round pick, and a 2018 first-round pick to the Buffalo Bills to move up and select Mahomes No. 10 overall.
The Bears would go on to select Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, who’s thrown for 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions in his 40 games with Chicago in the past three seasons. During that stretch, the Bears have had a 16-35 record, but they now have the opportunity to draft a potentially franchise-altering player who Mahomes believes will translate his generational talent to the next level.
“I mean if you’re able to have the success that he’s had in college on the level he’s had it, it’s gonna translate,” Mahomes said. “It’s just about getting in the right system, continuing to try to get better, and then you’re going to deal with adverse moments. How do you respond to those adverse moments? I mean he’s done a great job from everything I’ve seen and I’m sure he’ll do a great job in the NFL.”
The Bears have the No. 1 and the No. 9 overall picks in a 2024 NFL Draft that’s loaded with talent. As all eyes will be on Chicago in the months leading up to the draft to see if they’ll play their cards right in a potentially franchise-altering moment.