***Chicago Bears Thread*** Ben Johnson hired. The Resurrection Begins! (2 Viewers)

[Max Power]

I have to say I'm digging the trade idea of Fields and #9 to NE for #3. Getting Williams and MHjr.

Would New England really do this? I think it would be a bold move for the Bears. It would certainly get me excited for the season, not certain, though, that trading up should be their philosophy in this draft. I know we always overestimate the ease of trading down, but there are a lot of talented receivers in this draft. If the big three are gone at #9, I would rather see them trade down towards the end of the first and try to grab 2 of them from the group of Tez Walker, Brian Thomas, Keon Coleman, Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Legette. I really like how Green Bay has gone about drafting WRs the last two years, now they have an abundance of young talent.

I don't think NE would really be that interested, but a lot would boil down to what they think of Maye or Daniels. If they rate JF at the same level as they do whoever is left and they still get a top 10 pick in the trade, I think they consider it. It puts JF's value at a mid-second on the trade value chart. They can walk out of the first round with Daniels or Fields and Odunze/LT.

My biggest concern with WRs later in the draft is that I don't think Poles knows how to evaluate WR talent well enough. GB might be the best in the business at it. Poles has spent 4 draft picks on WRs and has nothing to show for it.

2022 3rd - Velus Jones - Horrible pick at the time
2023 2nd - Claypool - I think this was not doing his homework well
2023 4th - Tyler Scott - I liked the pick at the time, but have been underwhelmed so far
2023 7th - K'Neal Harry - I was ok with this swing, but Harry is not an NFL player.

Your point about evaluating WR talent is a very good one. So I guess that could mean take the consensus #1 (MHJr) or take a bunch of picks and hope one of them hits? Either way, I'm suddenly less optimistic.

The reality is that the team has bigger needs than moving up to get the homerun WR pick. I just think MHjr is as can't miss a prospect as comes out. I'd love pairing the top two talents in the draft for years to come.

I like the options that I think will be there at #9, but like you said I'm not opposed to moving back in the draft and taking a shot on Mitchell or Thomas. My unexperienced view is that the bust factor goes up quite a bit after the top 3, but we'll also see a couple all-pro level WRs go in the next tier of WRs. Thats where the confidence in Poles dips a bit.

 

[Mitchie]

I have to say I'm digging the trade idea of Fields and #9 to NE for #3. Getting Williams and MHjr.

there is just no way this would happen, Fields just doesn't hold that much value

 

[Deranged Hermit]

I have to say I'm digging the trade idea of Fields and #9 to NE for #3. Getting Williams and MHjr.

Would New England really do this? I think it would be a bold move for the Bears. It would certainly get me excited for the season, not certain, though, that trading up should be their philosophy in this draft. I know we always overestimate the ease of trading down, but there are a lot of talented receivers in this draft. If the big three are gone at #9, I would rather see them trade down towards the end of the first and try to grab 2 of them from the group of Tez Walker, Brian Thomas, Keon Coleman, Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Legette. I really like how Green Bay has gone about drafting WRs the last two years, now they have an abundance of young talent.

I don't think NE would really be that interested, but a lot would boil down to what they think of Maye or Daniels. If they rate JF at the same level as they do whoever is left and they still get a top 10 pick in the trade, I think they consider it. It puts JF's value at a mid-second on the trade value chart. They can walk out of the first round with Daniels or Fields and Odunze/LT.

My biggest concern with WRs later in the draft is that I don't think Poles knows how to evaluate WR talent well enough. GB might be the best in the business at it. Poles has spent 4 draft picks on WRs and has nothing to show for it.

2022 3rd - Velus Jones - Horrible pick at the time
2023 2nd - Claypool - I think this was not doing his homework well
2023 4th - Tyler Scott - I liked the pick at the time, but have been underwhelmed so far
2023 7th - K'Neal Harry - I was ok with this swing, but Harry is not an NFL player.

Your point about evaluating WR talent is a very good one. So I guess that could mean take the consensus #1 (MHJr) or take a bunch of picks and hope one of them hits? Either way, I'm suddenly less optimistic.

See, this is where I'm at too. After the top three of Harrison, Nabers and Odunze, if there's a wrong pick to make at WR, I believe this organization will make it.

 

[Max Power]

Bears interviewing former Packers DC Joe Barry for DC opening.

 

[Chreesto]

Bears interviewing former Packers DC Joe Barry for DC opening.

Interesting, we tried hiring from the packers for OC, that didn't work, so maybe DC? Not sure I would understand this hire, as he hasn't seemed exceptional.

 

[InDitkaWeTrust]

Bears interviewing former Packers DC Joe Barry for DC opening.

Interesting, we tried hiring from the packers for OC, that didn't work, so maybe DC? Not sure I would understand this hire, as he hasn't seemed exceptional.

Their DL played exceptionally well this season. We could use that kind of coaching up on the line.

 

[Max Power]

Fowler] The #Patriots plan to interview former #Bears OC Luke Getsy for their offensive coordinator job, per source.​

 

[Max Power]

[Pelissero] The #Bears hired Eric Washington as their defensive coordinator, per source.​

 

[flapgreen]

I have to say I'm digging the trade idea of Fields and #9 to NE for #3. Getting Williams and MHjr.

Zero chance Fields is worth that or NE would give up that much.

 

[flapgreen]

Still don't like Eberflus being here, but he's done a much better job at filling out the coaching staff this time around. Very unfortunate that Lal declined the opportunity. Would've been a massive hire.

 

[massraider]

I have to say I'm digging the trade idea of Fields and #9 to NE for #3. Getting Williams and MHjr.

I think there's enough unknowns for this kind of thing to be possible. Someone in NE likes Fields, but doesn't like Daniels. I could see it.

In order to get that deal, the market for Fields needs to be scorching hot, right when the season ends. Because if this is a draft day deal, that most likely means no one else offered a lot for Fields, so the Pats are better off taking MHJ and working a deal for Fields afterward.

 

[massraider]

2024 Consensus Big Board | NFL Mock Draft Database

The 2024 Consensus NFL Big Board from NFL Mock Draft Database. We've compiled all featured big boards into a single board.

www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com

So that's a consensus big board. The draft community has definitely decided on a top 8-10, and after that, it's all over the place.

Difference from 5-8 is kinda whatever, but from 8-11 is massive, for example.

Caleb and Bowers might be kinda sexy.

 

[flapgreen]

2024 Consensus Big Board | NFL Mock Draft Database

The 2024 Consensus NFL Big Board from NFL Mock Draft Database. We've compiled all featured big boards into a single board.

www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com

So that's a consensus big board. The draft community has definitely decided on a top 8-10, and after that, it's all over the place.

Difference from 5-8 is kinda whatever, but from 8-11 is massive, for example.

Caleb and Bowers might be kinda sexy.

Would love to get Caleb and Alt. 2 young tackles to protect our rookie. Can always build the WRs over time. Not a lot of chances to get a top tackle.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

So….the Bears official account tweeted this today

 

[Max Power]

After hearing some speculation of what the first pick might go for I'm back in toss up category.

Sounds like the floor is 3 firsts and 2 seconds. A first can be swapped for a player or even a have a starter added to that mix.

With Williams being a better prospect than Young/Stroud the package needs to include more.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

With Williams being a better prospect than Young/Stroud the package needs to include more.

Well that’s the hype anyway. I’m not sure if he actually is better than. stroud.

 

[Max Power]

I found myself rooting for Detroit last night. Monty looked great and they should have kept giving him the ball.

Crazy to think the Team that almost won the NFC was a team we beat once and should have beaten the other time. The Bears aren't that far off, but the coaching aspect scares me more now than it did before the weekend. Coaching and team discipline were what decided both of those games.

I still think I'm leaning toward drafting Caleb Williams. The Lamar game looked way too much like a game I could see JF playing down the road. Its a short sighted answer, but this is a short sighted league.

 

[Max Power]

Bears Give #1 Overall

Bears Get - #13, 44 and 77 overall this year. Raiders first and third round picks in 2025; Raiders second and fourth round picks in 2026; & DE Maxx Crosby

I'd say yes to that.

 

[DocHolliday]

Bears Give #1 Overall

Bears Get - #13, 44 and 77 overall this year. Raiders first and third round picks in 2025; Raiders second and fourth round picks in 2026; & DE Maxx Crosby

I'd say yes to that.

As a Raider fan that sounds awful and I like Fields. I wouldn’t trade Crosby for Fields straight up.

 

[flapgreen]

Bears Give #1 Overall

Bears Get - #13, 44 and 77 overall this year. Raiders first and third round picks in 2025; Raiders second and fourth round picks in 2026; & DE Maxx Crosby

I'd say yes to that.

No thanks. Still won't have a QB

 

[travdogg]

Bears Give #1 Overall

Bears Get - #13, 44 and 77 overall this year. Raiders first and third round picks in 2025; Raiders second and fourth round picks in 2026; & DE Maxx Crosby

I'd say yes to that.

I couldn't accept that fast enough.

2 1sts
2 2nds
2 3rds
1 4th
and arguably the best defensive player in the NFL for a POTENTIAL Franchise QB.

Not even close. I'd do for half the draft capital.

Bears Give #1 Overall

Bears Get - #13, 44 and 77 overall this year. Raiders first and third round picks in 2025; Raiders second and fourth round picks in 2026; & DE Maxx Crosby

I'd say yes to that.

As a Raider fan that sounds awful and I like Fields. I wouldn’t trade Crosby for Fields straight up.

Crosby is underrated by people who don't watch the Raiders. If the Raiders were a winning team, he'd get talked about like Nick Bosa and TJ Watt, and I'd very much argue he's better than both of them, and the 1st person who'd agree with that statement would be Patrick Mahomes.

Crosby>Fields by a ton, and I like Fields too.

 

[flapgreen]

Build a team around him all you like. Fields has the same problems now that he had coming out of college, which is why so many teams passed on him. He's slow at processing and staying in the pocket. That hasn't changed and it's obvious it won't with the Bears. Getsy tried to speed that up and it went horribly.

 

[BadHombre]

Bears Give #1 Overall

Bears Get - #13, 44 and 77 overall this year. Raiders first and third round picks in 2025; Raiders second and fourth round picks in 2026; & DE Maxx Crosby

I'd say yes to that.

As we saw this past Sunday in Baltimore, you can have a great defense but bad QB play will send you packing! Crosby is a great player, but Bears need to get the QB position right. They had a chance to draft Stroud last year and passed on it. Gotta take Caleb.

 

[Sunday Gravy]

Bears Give #1 Overall

Bears Get - #13, 44 and 77 overall this year. Raiders first and third round picks in 2025; Raiders second and fourth round picks in 2026; & DE Maxx Crosby

I'd say yes to that.

So you're saying the 1 pick is that much more valuable than Fields huh...

 

[Sunday Gravy]

Hopefully Maye will be very much in the conversation for us at one

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Nick Akridge breaks down UNC QB Drake Maye's strengths and weaknesses in this 2024 NFL Draft scouting report.

www.pff.com

 

[InDitkaWeTrust]

Hopefully Maye will be very much in the conversation for us at one

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Nick Akridge breaks down UNC QB Drake Maye's strengths and weaknesses in this 2024 NFL Draft scouting report.

www.pff.com

I'm telling you, after watching every snap he's taken at UNC, Maye isn't the guy. I'll be as pissed as I was when we drafted Trubisky if we take him at 1.

 

[flapgreen]

Read today that Fields had the 2nd worst QBR of all QBs in the 4th quarter that had over 50 passes this years, second to only Zappe. The guy is a bum when the pressure is one.

 

[flapgreen]

Hopefully Maye will be very much in the conversation for us at one

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Nick Akridge breaks down UNC QB Drake Maye's strengths and weaknesses in this 2024 NFL Draft scouting report.

www.pff.com

Has to be Williams, if they stay put.

 

[Chreesto]

Hopefully Maye will be very much in the conversation for us at one

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Nick Akridge breaks down UNC QB Drake Maye's strengths and weaknesses in this 2024 NFL Draft scouting report.

www.pff.com

Has to be Williams, if they stay put.

At this point in the process, I hope it is Williams. As the offseason progresses, though, I wouldn't mind seeing the Bears take a look at some other guys, like Bo nix, Penix, mccarthy or even rattler. They could draft one of those guys and keep fields (or trade fields) while at the same time trading down from the #1 pick and maybe get a real haul. A plan like that is, of course, contingent on 1) the scouting department vouching 100% for one of the other QBs and 2) an incredible offer for the #1 pick. Right now I want them to trade fields to atlanta for #43, which they should use to take the best WR available (Xavier Legette, Adonai Mitchell, etc) and hopefully pair that guy with Caleb Williams and Brock bowers or rome odunze at pick number 9. I don't think you can have too many weapons.

 

[Sunday Gravy]

Hopefully Maye will be very much in the conversation for us at one

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Nick Akridge breaks down UNC QB Drake Maye's strengths and weaknesses in this 2024 NFL Draft scouting report.

www.pff.com

Has to be Williams, if they stay put.

I'm getting very nervous about what I'm hearing about him and his father.

 

[nirad3]

Hopefully Maye will be very much in the conversation for us at one

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Nick Akridge breaks down UNC QB Drake Maye's strengths and weaknesses in this 2024 NFL Draft scouting report.

www.pff.com

I'm telling you, after watching every snap he's taken at UNC, Maye isn't the guy. I'll be as pissed as I was when we drafted Trubisky if we take him at 1.

I am right there with you. I can still feel the anger I felt on Trubisky Day. I don't get the Maye love at all.

 

[Sunday Gravy]

Colin Cowherd suggests Caleb Williams doesn't want to play for Bears | Parkins & Spiegel

Danny Parkins was on the verge of a meltdown after national host Colin Cowherd suggested USC star quarterback Caleb Williams has no interest in playing for t...

youtu.be

 

[Sunday Gravy]

Hopefully Maye will be very much in the conversation for us at one

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Nick Akridge breaks down UNC QB Drake Maye's strengths and weaknesses in this 2024 NFL Draft scouting report.

www.pff.com

I'm telling you, after watching every snap he's taken at UNC, Maye isn't the guy. I'll be as pissed as I was when we drafted Trubisky if we take him at 1.

I am right there with you. I can still feel the anger I felt on Trubisky Day. I don't get the Maye love at all.

Watching the playoffs makes me appreciate a guy like Maye over the "off script" guys.

 

[TwinTurbo]

I think both of the top two QBs in the draft are flawed.
Caleb would be good in a spread offense which the Bears don't currently have the coaching or personnel to run. I think he will be a Kyler Murray level pro.

Maye fits more of the mold that Getsy likes and can run a pro style offense. Maye has never jumped off the tape to me. Maye was 12-10 in college vs DI opponents. 1-4 against ranked teams. Pro comp is a poor man's Justin Herbert.

JF has his issues, but very few QBs in this league really elevate their entire team. I think we're entering an era where a quality OC and good WRs make a bigger difference.

What recent history makes you think that? It's never been more about having a QB than now.

Outside of Tom Brady (who played at 50% of his market rate) and Mahomes, no other QB has consistently won.

Both guys have HOF coaching and are way better when they have weapons.

Hurts, Allen, Burrow aren't playing well even with top talent around them.

Purdy is a system QB.

Tua isn't even good without Tyreek.

Point being I think a guy like MHJr makes JF better more than Someone like Caleb Williams makes Tyler Scott good.

I think Joe Burrow is that guy if he would just stay healthy.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Hopefully Maye will be very much in the conversation for us at one

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Nick Akridge breaks down UNC QB Drake Maye's strengths and weaknesses in this 2024 NFL Draft scouting report.

www.pff.com

Has to be Williams, if they stay put.

I'm getting very nervous about what I'm hearing about him and his father.

Yeah, I'm getting a lot of 'Big Baller' type vibes from the dad. Not sure Chicago wants that kind of headache.

 

[Team Chaos]

Caleb Williams Will Not Be A Chicago Bear. The Signs Are All There.

A Statistical analysis breaks down the crazy over-hyped Caleb Williams craze. Bears fans need to realize the reason the Bears are sticking with Justin Field...

m.youtube.com

I just saw this breakdown of Caleb Williams vs. others coming into the league. Pretty interesting.

 

[flapgreen]

Hopefully Maye will be very much in the conversation for us at one

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Nick Akridge breaks down UNC QB Drake Maye's strengths and weaknesses in this 2024 NFL Draft scouting report.

www.pff.com

Has to be Williams, if they stay put.

I'm getting very nervous about what I'm hearing about him and his father.

Lol. This made me laugh. Something about him and his dad worries you? I haven't heard that, but this seems to be a huge stretch. We have idea about this guy and his dad. Caleb us definitely the pick, but nothing wouid shock me with the Bears. I hope Cunningham staying around will prevent the Bears from being foolish.

 

[InDitkaWeTrust]

Hopefully Maye will be very much in the conversation for us at one

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Nick Akridge breaks down UNC QB Drake Maye's strengths and weaknesses in this 2024 NFL Draft scouting report.

www.pff.com

I'm telling you, after watching every snap he's taken at UNC, Maye isn't the guy. I'll be as pissed as I was when we drafted Trubisky if we take him at 1.

I am right there with you. I can still feel the anger I felt on Trubisky Day. I don't get the Maye love at all.

Watching the playoffs makes me appreciate a guy like Maye over the "off script" guys.

Mahomes is the most off script QB in the league.

 

[Max Power]

The Score guys were freaking out that Colin Cowherd is hearing that Caleb doesn't want to play for Chicago. They put stock into it because Cowherd is a USC fan with USC connections.

This is going to be a long several months.

 

[massraider]

The Score guys were freaking out that Colin Cowherd is hearing that Caleb doesn't want to play for Chicago. They put stock into it because Cowherd is a USC fan with USC connections.

They want to talk about it, because freaking out about this made up thing get more people to listen and watch than saying, "Caleb Williams and his dad hasn't said a GD thing about the Bears--ever". Which is the truth.

Anything starting with "Colin Cowherd speculated" is as valid as anyone here putting something on Twitter. Pretty much everyone knows this, but the content creators latch onto it, because it drives web traffic. That's it.

 

[Max Power]

The Score guys were freaking out that Colin Cowherd is hearing that Caleb doesn't want to play for Chicago. They put stock into it because Cowherd is a USC fan with USC connections.

They want to talk about it, because freaking out about this made up thing get more people to listen and watch than saying, "Caleb Williams and his dad hasn't said a GD thing about the Bears--ever". Which is the truth.

Anything starting with "Colin Cowherd speculated" is as valid as anyone here putting something on Twitter. Pretty much everyone knows this, but the content creators latch onto it, because it drives web traffic. That's it.

Totally understand someone dismissing Cowherd. Its a rumor during rumor season. That said... Cowherd does have USC connections so it shouldn't be outright dismissed. The Score staff texted Williams' father about the rumor and he texted back "no comment". Which also doesn't put anyone's concerns at ease.

I think there is also a difference between not wanting to play for a team and not willing. The rumor was only that he doesn't want Chicago, which isn't a crazy thing for a kid to say/feel.

 

[Mitchie]

would anyone in their right mind want to move from Southern California to Chicago?

 

[Max Power]

would anyone in their right mind want to move from Southern California to Chicago?

He was in DC and Oklahoma before southern Cal, so I can at least argue that Chicago is better than those two.

 

[menobrown]

There is nothing to see here and Cowherd is already back pedaling. He basically made up a rumor and got two shows out of it, one off the rumor he created and the other to backtrack of the rumor he created.

 

[InDitkaWeTrust]

It's not out of the realm of possibility for a likely #1 player to not want to play in a specific market. The precedent is there multiple times over. It also lends some credence to the idea that LVR is making staff and player moves to trade up to the #1 spot to take Caleb. It's all speculation and click bait at this point, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Bears do trade down from #1 and if that trade package isn't quite as good as it should be, you can bet that it's because he refused to play in CHI.

 

[massraider]

Totally understand someone dismissing Cowherd. Its a rumor during rumor season. That said... Cowherd does have USC connections so it shouldn't be outright dismissed. The Score staff texted Williams' father about the rumor and he texted back "no comment". Which also doesn't put anyone's concerns at ease.

Cowherd didn't even say he heard it from someone at USC.

https://twitter.com/dave_bfr/status/1753477548917272860?t=_xpJob5cN_6drW1HFS6ymg&s=19

And the family called him out by the way. But what a shock, nobody is as interested in the clarification.

All anyone remembers is the accusation.

 

[Chreesto]

It's not out of the realm of possibility for a likely #1 player to not want to play in a specific market. The precedent is there multiple times over. It also lends some credence to the idea that LVR is making staff and player moves to trade up to the #1 spot to take Caleb. It's all speculation and click bait at this point, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Bears do trade down from #1 and if that trade package isn't quite as good as it should be, you can bet that it's because he refused to play in CHI.

In the event that he issued some sort of ultimatum to the Bears, he would reveal himself as a player I wouldn't want anyway. I think star Qbs don't think like that. I suspect, though, that this is all much ado about nothing. As someone else mentioned, it's totally normal to not want to end up in a given city, that is not the same as refusing to play in a city. I suspect that if Caleb Williams came to Chigago, he would very quickly learn to love the city, and if he were to be a top-10 QB, there is no city in the world that would love him more. I don't know that Michael Jordan or Walter Payton were especially thrilled to come to Chicago but they are celebrated like the saints of michigan avenue. I haven't been to Chicago in years, but I suspect that very few cities can equal the mania of the Bears fanbase.

 

[InDitkaWeTrust]

Totally understand someone dismissing Cowherd. Its a rumor during rumor season. That said... Cowherd does have USC connections so it shouldn't be outright dismissed. The Score staff texted Williams' father about the rumor and he texted back "no comment". Which also doesn't put anyone's concerns at ease.

Cowherd didn't even say he heard it from someone at USC.

https://twitter.com/dave_bfr/status/1753477548917272860?t=_xpJob5cN_6drW1HFS6ymg&s=19

And the family called him out by the way. But what a shock, nobody is as interested in the clarification.

All anyone remembers is the accusation.

I really just need to turn off sports radio and mute the twitter talking heads until the draft.

 

[InDitkaWeTrust]

It's not out of the realm of possibility for a likely #1 player to not want to play in a specific market. The precedent is there multiple times over. It also lends some credence to the idea that LVR is making staff and player moves to trade up to the #1 spot to take Caleb. It's all speculation and click bait at this point, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Bears do trade down from #1 and if that trade package isn't quite as good as it should be, you can bet that it's because he refused to play in CHI.

In the event that he issued some sort of ultimatum to the Bears, he would reveal himself as a player I wouldn't want anyway. I think star Qbs don't think like that. I suspect, though, that this is all much ado about nothing. As someone else mentioned, it's totally normal to not want to end up in a given city, that is not the same as refusing to play in a city. I suspect that if Caleb Williams came to Chigago, he would very quickly learn to love the city, and if he were to be a top-10 QB, there is no city in the world that would love him more. I don't know that Michael Jordan or Walter Payton were especially thrilled to come to Chicago but they are celebrated like the saints of michigan avenue. I haven't been to Chicago in years, but I suspect that very few cities can equal the mania of the Bears fanbase.

Make no mistake. It has zero to do with the city and everything to do with ownership/coaching. The Bears have set a terrible precedent in the way they hire/fire coaching staff because ownership has been way too slow to make moves. If Flus is fired after 2024, it'll be the 3rd time in a row that they've drafted a high round rookie QB with a lame duck coach in place.

ALso to you first point, John Elway and Eli Manning both refused to play for certain organizations that were planning to draft them. Elway is in the HoF and I'd imagine Eli will make it in as well.

 

[Chreesto]

It's not out of the realm of possibility for a likely #1 player to not want to play in a specific market. The precedent is there multiple times over. It also lends some credence to the idea that LVR is making staff and player moves to trade up to the #1 spot to take Caleb. It's all speculation and click bait at this point, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Bears do trade down from #1 and if that trade package isn't quite as good as it should be, you can bet that it's because he refused to play in CHI.

In the event that he issued some sort of ultimatum to the Bears, he would reveal himself as a player I wouldn't want anyway. I think star Qbs don't think like that. I suspect, though, that this is all much ado about nothing. As someone else mentioned, it's totally normal to not want to end up in a given city, that is not the same as refusing to play in a city. I suspect that if Caleb Williams came to Chigago, he would very quickly learn to love the city, and if he were to be a top-10 QB, there is no city in the world that would love him more. I don't know that Michael Jordan or Walter Payton were especially thrilled to come to Chicago but they are celebrated like the saints of michigan avenue. I haven't been to Chicago in years, but I suspect that very few cities can equal the mania of the Bears fanbase.

Make no mistake. It has zero to do with the city and everything to do with ownership/coaching. The Bears have set a terrible precedent in the way they hire/fire coaching staff because ownership has been way too slow to make moves. If Flus is fired after 2024, it'll be the 3rd time in a row that they've drafted a high round rookie QB with a lame duck coach in place.

ALso to you first point, John Elway and Eli Manning both refused to play for certain organizations that were planning to draft them. Elway is in the HoF and I'd imagine Eli will make it in as well.

I will accept your point on Elway, as he was the real deal, but I think Eli is just Joe Flacco with a better lineage. Honestly, flacco's one SB run is probably as impressive as Eli's 2, just as far as playoff performance went. If Eli is the baseline for QBs that think they shouldn't go to bad organization, then I'll pass.