Lincoln Riley Thinks Rumors About Caleb Williams Not Liking Bears Are a 'Smokescreen'

USC head coach Lincoln Riley downplayed the notion that quarterback Caleb Williams would bristle at the idea of playing for the Chicago Bears, who have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

On The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, called the speculation a "smokescreen" that can be typical of the predraft process. He added that Williams "wants to win" and won't be overly concerned with individual locations:

Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd said last Friday on his daily show he believes Williams "privately deep down has real concerns about the Bears. That prompted a member of Williams' camp to reach out to Cowherd directly to push back on that narrative.

It's not unheard of for a draft prospect to execute a power play and either attempt to pick a preferred destination or at the very least avoid an undesirable situation. John Elway in 1983 and Eli Manning in 2004 are two of the most famous examples as neither played with the team that selected them.

In the case of the Bears, it's easy to see why Williams might have misgivings. Chicago has made the playoffs in two of the last 13 seasons, and the organization has been a quarterback graveyard for generations.

Jay Cutler is the all-time leader in passing yards, yet his run in the Windy City isn't remembered all that fondly. Second on the list is Sid Luckman, who last played in 1950.

Absent Williams explicitly angling to go anywhere but Chicago, this does feel like the usual draft subterfuge referenced by Riley, though.

Remember in 2020 when there was the notion Joe Burrow may not want to play for the Cincinnati Bengals?

The Bengals took him first overall and were AFC champions by his second year.

It feels like history is repeating itself. The intrigue surrounding Williams will look silly if he's standing on the stage and holding up a Bears jersey on April 25.