Report: Caleb Williams passing on medical exam could alter trade timeline for Bears

Caleb Williams passed on the medical exams at the NFL Scouting Combine and that could alter a timeline for a trade of Justin Fields or the No. 1 pick, according to NFL Network’s Peter Schrager.

The Bears hold the top selection and most analysts believe they’ll draft the USC quarterback and trade their former first rounder in Fields. But without Williams going through drills and the medical examination in Indianapolis, there’s pause.

Whether the Bears decide to keep Fields and trade the top pick or vice versa, that process is on hold.

“As I detailed on (Good Morning Football), Caleb Williams passing on doing the medical exams at the Combine could also alter the timeline for a trade,” Schrager wrote on Twitter. “Hard to imagine Chicago would trade the top pick OR Justin Fields (or would a team trade up for 1) before a thorough medical.”

Whatever that means for Williams’ physical health remains to be seen. It seems as though Williams and the Bears have mutual interest of course.

But without a medical examination, the Bears can’t make an official decision on Fields or the top pick.

The Bears met with Williams this week in Indianapolis as the pre-draft process hit its next stage. It was a brief meeting, but it was the “first date” as Chicago decides what it wants to do at quarterback.

As for how the meeting went with general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus, Williams said there wasn’t much room for small talk. That will likely come with the in-person visit down the road.

“They were awesome,” Williams told reporters. “I spoke more about ball and things like that, just because these interviews were so short. It was more about them getting to know me, getting to test my mental, that I know the base things of what it takes to be a quarterback in the NFL.”

Williams brings some strong credentials to the NFL. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, he totaled 50 touchdowns as a sophomore and found the end zone 120 times – 93 with his arm, 27 with his legs – during his three-year career at Oklahoma and USC.

Still, as is the case with any draft prospect, a team will have to develop Williams. While his meeting with the Bears went well, he said it was hard to tell what the development plan was with such a short amount of time.

“Ten minutes is difficult to figure out if they’re going to be able to develop you,” Williams said. “I enjoyed the meeting. It was a good meeting. But 10 minutes is pretty difficult.”