Kliff Kingsbury was supposed to become the next Offensive Coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. However, in a quick turn of events, Kingsbury withdrew his name from consideration for the Raiders OC and was recently hired as the next OC for the Washington Commanders. How does this specific hire affect the Chicago Bears QB decision?
Commanders Hire May Have Huge Implications For Bears QB Decision
Ties Between Kliff Kingsbury and Consensus First Overall Selection Caleb Williams
There is already a lot of speculation on why the Commanders hired Kingsbury. He recently coached the consensus first-overall pick Caleb Williams at USC last season. Williams and Kingsbury appear to have a close connection, with Williams’ camp having a lot of confidence in Kingsbury’s ability to coach and mentor him. According to Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago, Kingsbury had this to say about Williams. “His joy for the game. His competitive spirit. The talent level is unbelievable. Obviously, I’ve been around Patrick [Mahomes], and he’s eerily similar in some ways: the ability to extend plays, off-platform throws, and just the way they both play the game is pretty scary.” With high praise for Williams and having a close bond, Kingsbury may be able to form a plan with Commanders’ ownership to move up to the No. 1 overall pick to draft Williams.
Let the speculation begin: Kliff Kingsbury coached Caleb Williams last season. Williams was a standout QB at Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C. The Commanders currently hold the No. 2 overall pick and are in striking distance of the No. 1 pick that belongs to Chicago. https://t.co/P9uZYvY648
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 5, 2024
Would The Bears Be Willing To Move Down From The No. 1 Overall Pick?
The Bears have all the leverage. The Commanders have the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, one spot behind the Bears. However, the Bears can decide whether to move back and give the Commanders what they presumably want or to stay at one and draft Williams themselves. PFF Brad Spielberger recently said that he believes that Chicago would probably be able to get the Commanders’ second overall pick, a second-round pick, and a first-round pick in 2025 to move down one spot. Would the Bears move down one spot for that kind of compensation? Probably not. Nevertheless, if the Commanders truly want Williams, they may have to offer more to move up.
Realistic Outcome For the Bears QB Decision and The Commanders Draft Aspirations
The Bears will most likely stay at one and draft Williams. The Commanders may offer a very lucrative package, but it’s hard to let a generational prospect go to another team when you can draft him. It’s up to General Manager Ryan Poles to pull the trigger if he wants to move back or draft Williams. Poles already has to decide whether he wants to keep or trade Justin Fields, so negotiating with the Commanders seems too much to handle at the moment.
As for the Commanders, it seems they will heavily pursue the Bears No. 1 pick. They may have hired Kingsbury simply because he’s an excellent offensive coordinator or because he has connections to Williams. Either way, it’ll take a lot to get Williams. It’s time to see what unfolds in the coming weeks for both the Bears and the Commanders as they figure out how to approach their QB situations.
Main Photo: [Rob Schumacher/The Republic] – USA Today Sports
