Even though the Panthers beat the Falcons in Week 15, their 2-13 record is still the worst in the league, which means the Bears are still in the driver’s seat to control the No. 1 overall pick. But there’s still questions about what the Bears should do should they end up with the top choice for a second season in a row. Should they trade it away for a second in a row and forge ahead with Justin Fields? Or should they reset the clock on their rebuild with a new franchise quarterback?

As the offense continues to struggle, it’s becoming more clear that something needs to change on that side of the ball. In this mock draft we’re going to explore a world in which GM Ryan Poles determines a change under center is necessary.

As always, this mock draft is not an attempt to predict what the Bears will actually do when they’re back in the War Room next offseason. That’s impossible. Nor is it meant as a recommendation of what the Bears should do. This mock draft is meant as an opportunity to dig into some of the intriguing college prospects this season, and how those players may fit in Chicago.

Last year, Ryan Poles passed on picking a new quarterback and traded away the No. 1 pick for a DJ Moore and a bounty of other draft selections. He can’t resist the opportunity to add a young, talented QB again, though. There are reasons to believe Justin Fields can succeed as an NFL quarterback, but he’ll need to be paid a hefty contract soon, and the Bears aren’t quite ready to contend for Super Bowls yet. So Poles opts to trade Fields, draft Williams and give the Bears more runway to win with a QB on a rookie deal.

Williams has all the same big-play upside that Fields brings to the offense. He’s a threat to score with his legs, has a top-notch deep ball and can turn busted plays into explosive gains with his off-script improvisations. Ball security issues cropped up with nine fumbles this season, but over the breadth of his career, Williams has taken very good care of the football. He’s also effective working as a rhythm and timing passer. There’s a reason he’s one of the most highly-touted quarterback prospects since Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence came out in 2020 and 2021.