Courtship of quarterback Caleb Williams by the Chicago Bears advanced to the next step on Wednesday with the USC product visiting Halas Hall three weeks before the 2024 NFL Draft.

Williams widely is expected to be the No. 1 pick by the Bears, who traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers last month.

This is at least the third meeting between team officials and Williams, who underwent medical testing he had resisted at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, according to multiple reports.

Prior to Williams’ pro day at USC, the Bears spent parts of three days with Williams in a contingent that included general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, among others.

Williams is expected to visit the Washington Commanders, his hometown team, before the draft and met with head coach Dan Quinn around his pro day.

Williams shared part of his visit with Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner. Turner is an option for the Bears in the first-round, too. Chicago holds the No. 1 and No. 9 overall picks.

Poles said last week the Bears would welcome Williams to the Chicagoland area and introduce him to the surroundings that could be his next home during the team visit.

The GM is also hands-on with prospects and took a trip to personally test the stamina and competitive endurance of Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright before selecting him in the first round last year.

Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and passed for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions for the Trojans in 2023.

In three seasons at Oklahoma (2021) and USC combine, Williams put up prolific passing numbers: 10,082 yards, 93 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with 27 rushing TDs.

–Field Level Media