Caleb Williams U-Turn on Bears Drafting Rome Odunze; Advises Ryan Poles to Use No. 9 Pick on His ‘High School Friend’

The draft hour is upon us, and the Chicago Bears are on the clock. Numerous reports, rumors, and speculations from NFL insiders have surfaced regarding the Chicago Bears’ strategy for the ninth overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. While Chicago’s intentions for the top spot are widely anticipated, the real curiosity lies in their strategy for the ninth selection.

This year’s first round is poised to be tumultuous, with teams eyeing trades for quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive tackles, adding to the anticipation surrounding Chicago’s pick. While speculation is rife about quarterback Caleb Williams being the undisputed first-overall pick, Williams himself added his suggestion for Ryan Poles recently, and his choice, rightly enough, sides with someone close to home. 

Caleb Williams suggests ex-highschool teammate as Bears No. 9 pick

Even though Williams harbors no actual sway over the Bears’ choice, he can surely suggest a suitable candidate. During a media session just a day prior to the draft, Williams was asked about his pick for the Bears at No. 9. His response was immediate and decisive: Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. “I would probably go Olu Fashanu because I know he’d put his life on the line for me protecting me,” said the star quarterback referring to his high school teammate. Selecting Fashanu with the ninth overall pick would bring an intriguing dynamic to the Bears’ lineup.

The 21-year-old left tackle boasts an impressive track record, having not surrendered a single sack and allowing just one quarterback hit across 1,263 snaps over the past two seasons with the Nittany Lions. Moreover, his championship-winning experience alongside Williams at Gonzaga College High School adds an enticing layer to his potential fit with the Bears.

While the Bears currently have Braxton Jones as their two-year starter at left tackle, the prospect of bolstering the position remains on the table as they seek to fortify their offensive line to support their new franchise quarterback. Although the team explored options with several first-round offensive tackle prospects during the pre-draft process, there’s no indication that Fashanu had an official Top 30 visit with Chicago. However, when it comes to Williams, it can be safely anticipated that his name will be called first during the first round of overall picks. 

Caleb Williams is “ready” for his “big moment”

As the clock inches toward 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in Detroit, anticipation for the NFL Draft reaches its peak. Amidst the flurry of excitement and uncertainty, one player stands at the forefront: Caleb Williams. He recently shed some light on his excitement regarding the draft, “I’m ready for the moment and ready to be welcomed onstage in my suit and have a blast.” He is however very calm about the whole anticipated moment, since according to him he has played this very scenario multiple times in his mind and has become familiar with it, much like how poised he was with his reaction to winning the Heisman Trophy.

“I don’t think I am, because I’ve kind of gone over it multiple times in my head, just like I did the Heisman,” Williams said in a recent interview where he was asked if he thinks he might get emotional after being called out first in the draft. Williams stands as the undisputed top prospect, showcasing his excellence in both USC and Oklahoma. Last season, he demonstrated his skills with an impressive 3,633 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.  Williams draws parallels to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, with his remarkable arm strength, precision, and football instincts.