Early in the offseason, there was a lot of wild conjecture in the media about top prospect Caleb Williams maybe choosing to return to USC and forego playing for the Chicago Bears in favor of sitting out the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams may not be on the board on April 25 for an additional reason.
Williams can no longer go back to USC. His decision to enter the 2024 NFL Draft disqualifies him from participating in the NCAA. But he didn’t have to wait for draft night to hear his name called to sign with the Bears.
Caleb Williams may sign with the Chicago Bears before April 25th.
The league still allows teams with the first overall pick in the draft to sign a player before that player’s clock runs out, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports. At this writing, the Bears are officially “on the clock”:
The two parties don’t need to wait three weeks to make it official if Caleb Williams wants the Bears and the Bears want him. As to the NFL, the regulation permitting the team possessing the first overall pick to finalize its selection prior to the draft is still in effect.
Naturally, the league is usually against the release of draft-related material in advance. In order to determine the pick, the NFL needs as many people to watch the TV coverage as possible. When the first pick is on the clock, there won’t be the slightest drama if Williams signs with the Bears.
There isn’t much motivation to hurry.
Other than clearing the air in their offseason talks with Williams, the Bears wouldn’t gain anything by signing Williams before the draft. Williams had to wait until rookie OTAs to take part in team activities.
Prior to the 2011 changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams would sign the top pick. The team that selects first cannot offer several elite prospects a lower contract at auction in exchange for being selected first according to the new rookie wage system.
It appears that the Bears have already decided on Williams.
Williams seemed to have captured the Bears’ heart. It’s possible that they will sign Williams before April 25, even if it’s unlikely that they will violate protocol. Anyhow, as we all know, the Washington Commanders at No. 2 are where the real draft begins.
