CHICAGO — USC quarterback Caleb Williams was inside Halas Hall on Wednesday for his pre-draft visit with the Bears, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Williams, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, had dinner with the Bears brass on Tuesday before his potential visit on Wednesday, sources said.
General manager Ryan Bowles said last week that Williams will be part of the team's first big wave of top-30 visits during the first week of April. (Teams can bring up to 30 draft-eligible prospects for pre-draft visits.) That includes Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner, who visited with the Bears on Wednesday, and Washington wide receiver Roma Udunze, who will be in Halas Hall on Thursday. A source said. The Bears hold the Nos. 1 and 9 picks in the first round of the draft.
After spending three days with Williams last month in Los Angeles before USC's pro day — including an 80-minute one-on-one session with Williams and Bears coach Matt Eberflus — Chicago aims to continue testing Williams' football acumen while allowing him to get a feel for where he is at. That's expected to be his destination as a starter.
“I've done that over the years when guys come in. You can actually do some installations, take a break and then just kind of bring it back to you just as far as the call-up,” Bowles said. “Build relationships with coaches. Make sure there's chemistry there.”
Added Eberflus: “We're just going to continue some of the pins that we installed there at the pro day. We're going to continue to go on that journey, teach him more offense and then have him bring it back to us and see where he's at that way. He's been great that way. Again, spend more.” “He'll get a chance to spend some time with the offensive staff that wasn't there at pro day. It'll be good.”
Wednesday was also an opportunity for the Bears to undergo a medical test at their facility.
Last month, Williams said he planned to conduct medical evaluations during private visits with teams after skipping that part of the NFL. It is not clear if the quarterback has planned further visits before the draft that begins on April 25.
NFL Network first reported Williams' visit with the Bears.
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