Caleb Williams holds pro day workout in front of prominent Chicago Bears contingent

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The first specific particular person Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams greeted when he stepped onto the sector for his skilled day Wednesday was huge receiver Keenan Allen, newly acquired by the Chicago Bears.

Allen wasn’t the one Bears advisor in attendance, with head coach Matt Eberflus and fundamental supervisor Ryan Poles moreover making an attempt on.

The Bears have the No. 1 common select in subsequent month’s NFL draft and Williams gave them a great deal of causes he might very nicely be that selection over the course of a 25-minute session, throwing passes to former Trojans teammates sooner than concluding with a pooch punt.

“We had a bunch of teams proper right here, I consider they acknowledged all 32,” Williams acknowledged. “Nevertheless to have that funding that they’re presumably gonna make, to have the GM and the highest coach proper right here to take a look at me … To have them proper right here and assist me may very well be very cool.”

The symptoms linking Williams and the Bears have intensified over the earlier week. They traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, creating a niche for the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner to in all probability grow to be their new starter.

Chicago moreover acquired Allen in a commerce from the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. Not solely does he characterize a sturdy selection inside the passing recreation for a rookie quarterback, Williams is buddies with the 11-year veteran.

“I’ve acknowledged Keenan for perhaps a yr now, I’ve frolicked with him numerous cases,” Williams acknowledged. “And so to have him proper right here and for me to presumably be going to the an identical employees as him now, it’s thrilling. … To presumably have the flexibility to have him as a big receiver coming off his biggest yr, the entire information that you’d have the ability to obtain from somebody like that, it’s good.”

The ties between Williams and the Bears are solely extra more likely to develop. Williams acknowledged he met with Eberflus and Poles over the earlier two days, and a pre-draft go to might be going the following step.

No matter speculation that Williams would possibly try to maneuver himself to a distinct employees, he acknowledged the most recent contact wasn’t regarding the Bears having to advertise themselves as an interesting trip spot.

“They’re making an attempt to see if I’m the appropriate match to be first select as QB and presumably be the face of the franchise,” Williams acknowledged. “They’re making an attempt to find out if that’s the man they should make investments regularly, vitality, effort and money into, which is clearly essential on this state of affairs. So it was good and easily establishing relationships.”

The on-field aspect was the primary goal at Allyson Felix Topic at Loker Monitor Stadium, with Williams electing to not participate specifically particular person drills and solely throwing. He confirmed good mechanics nevertheless did overthrow huge receivers Brenden Rice and Tahj Washington on two deep balls.

Rice, the son of NFL legend Jerry Rice, moreover acquired right here up with a formidable catch by stretching out to grab a extreme slant from Williams.

“Man, he was bombing away,” Rice acknowledged of his quarterback the earlier two seasons.

Williams was principally proud of how the morning went, whereas conserving observe of what is coming subsequent.

“I wanted to return proper right here and positioned on a gift,” Williams acknowledged. “It’s solely about 30 days out until I’m presumably picked, so been engaged on actually preparing for an exact season and probably not draft day or one thing like that.”

___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL