Caleb Williams and Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson both display rugged personalities, but those jagged edges appear to fit together better and better over time — a development to which the quarterback lent his voice ahead of the NFL draft.
Speaking with reporters Monday, April 20, Williams said Johnson made him a promise shortly after the Bears’ Divisional Round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime at Soldier Field.
That promise: “It’s gonna be more,” Johnson told the QB, per Williams. “It’s gonna be more difficult. I’m gonna push you more.”
Williams answer: “Yes, sir. Let’s do it.”
“I have a goal, he has a goal, and it aligns with each other,” Williams continued. “It’s making sure we to get to that end one.”
Bears Likely to Look Defense Early in NFL Draft
GettyChicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (left) and head coach Ben Johnson (right).
The Bears will have precisely four chances to get better over the first three rounds of the draft on Thursday and Friday. Those reside at pick Nos. 25, 57, 60 and 89.
Chicago has a handful of significant needs after over-performing during Johnson’s first season as head coach in 2025, going 12-5 and winning the NFC North Division for the first time since 2018 before capturing the franchise’s first playoff victory since 2010 — in comeback fashion over the rival Green Bay Packers, no less.
One issue is the defensive line, which the team can actually split into two separate deficiencies via the pass-rush off the edge and someone to anchor the interior of the front.
Chicago should have interesting options to pursue a solution to either with the 25th pick, though the top-tier edge-rushers will be long gone, so the Bears will have to settle for a pass-rusher one rung below and try to develop him.
Defensive tackle is a weaker group in 2026. Thus, if the team wants to draft a player to fortify the interior of the D-line, Chicago might be better served to wait and do so in the middle of Round 2 where it can potentially get value on someone like Caleb Banks of Florida, who ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. recently mocked to the Denver Broncos at No. 62 overall.
The Bears could also be in the mix for a safety in Round 1, depending on whether Dillon Thieneman and/or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is still on the board. Kiper projected the two will go back-to-back at pick Nos. 18 and 19 to the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers, respectively.
Bears Shaky at Left Tackle Heading into Next Season
GettyChicago Bears left tackle Braxton Jones.
Another path Chicago might take in Round 1 is offensive tackle. Second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo, who won the starting job down the stretch last season, suffered a patellar tendon injury against the Packers in playoffs and will miss most of 2026.
Todd McShay of The Ringer reported Monday his sources around the league expect a run on the position to begin around the halfway point of the first round and dry up approximately where Chicago is picking, with a couple of teams potentially looking to trade up and leapfrog teams in the Bears’ draft range.
Chicago inked Braxton Jones to a one-year deal after he lost the starting LT role last season to Theo Benedet, who later lost it to Trapilo. The Bears also added Jedrick Wills Jr., formerly of Cleveland Browns, after he sat out all last season with injuries.
Benedet remains on the roster, so Chicago may try to patchwork the premier position on Williams’ blindside between the three of them until Trapilo can hopefully return toward the end of the campaign.
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