In a hypothetical scenario where Caleb Williams, touted as a generational quarterback, is absent from the 2024 NFL Draft, North Carolina’s Drake Maye would likely emerge as the consensus first overall pick. Despite ongoing reports suggesting the Chicago Bears’ intention to select Williams, there remains speculation about the team trading both their first overall pick and Justin Fields.
This situation could open the door for Maye to be a potential choice for the Bears, although some fans are hesitant to entertain this possibility, drawing parallels to the past disappointment with Mitch Trubisky, another former North Carolina quarterback.
Maye, however, rejects the comparison to Trubisky, emphasizing that the similarities between them extend only to their shared history as starting quarterbacks for the North Carolina Tar Heels. With Maye having a two-year starting record and superior arm talent compared to Trubisky in 2017, the apprehension among Bears fans might be unwarranted.
The Bears have already met with Maye at the NFL Scouting Combine, and additional visits are anticipated at North Carolina’s Pro Day and a pre-draft visit to Halas Hall. Regardless of the team’s current inclination towards Williams, conducting thorough evaluations of all top quarterback prospects remains in their best interest.