Bears to host Caleb Williams for a visit at Halas Hall in early April

(670 The Score) The Bears will host USC quarterback Caleb Williams for a formal visit at Halas Hall in early April, The Athletic reported Monday from the NFL owners meetings.

Williams is considered the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, a slot the Bears hold by virtue of a trade with the Panthers. Chicago recently traded three-year starting quarterback Justin Fields to Pittsburgh in a deal that cleared the way for the selection of Williams.

Last week, the Bears sent a contingent to Los Angeles to watch Williams' pro day. They also had dinner with Williams and met many of his USC teammates.

“When you talk to his teammates, they don’t like him, they love him,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles told reporters Monday. “His leadership, how he brings people together, he’s intentional with his leadership. Same goes with the staff.

“I’m having a hard time finding a person that doesn’t like him or even love him.”

Though the Bears haven't finalized their decision with the No. 1 overall pick, they continue to check the necessary boxes in order to make Williams the top pick. The NFL Draft begins on April 25.

Throughout this offseason, the Bears have been preparing to draft a quarterback and put the pieces around him to succeed. A key part of that was their acquisition of six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen from the Chargers in exchange for a fourth-round pick.

“I don’t think there’s a better receiver in the league that can be better for a young quarterback in terms of understanding the NFL, timing, space, reading defenses,” Poles said of Allen.

Poles and the Bears will send a group to LSU's pro day later this week to scout Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, according to reports.