No specific teams were named in the report, but would you like to see him join the Bears?
Before the Chicago Bears traded for Ryan Bates and signed Coleman Shelton, they seemed like a clear candidate to pursue free agent center Connor Williams. Now, it appears to be a long shot.
Williams, who tore his ACL on December 11, was poised to be one of the top free agents available, but his injury has slowed his market. However, his rehab is progressing well, and he expects to be ready for week one. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Williams has been in discussions with multiple teams and plans to choose his new team before training camp begins.
Williams played center for the Miami Dolphins over the last two years (26 starts in 26 games) and guard for the Dallas Cowboys from 2018 to 2021 (51 starts in 57 games).
While neither Schefter nor any other insider has specified the teams Williams is in talks with, CBS Sports listed the Bears as one of the best fits for the 27-year-old interior offensive lineman.
It’s widely assumed that the Bears’ main goal for 2024 is to keep No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams healthy. Adding a player like Williams would help achieve that while also providing much-needed depth and versatility to Chicago’s offensive line.
Once healthy, Williams would be an upgrade at center, potentially moving Bates to a swing role or pushing Nate Davis to the bench.
However, the Bears might lack the cap space to sign Williams while also addressing the need for a veteran defensive end, with EDGE being a higher priority.
Here’s what a few of our other analysts had to say about the possibility of Connor Williams joining the Bears.