The Chicago Bears were unsurprisingly well-represented at the USC pro day on March 20th. Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus, Ian Cunningham, and Shane Waldron were all in attendance, along with five others. All were there to get a good look at quarterback Caleb Williams, the heavy favorite to go #1 overall in the upcoming NFL draft. Many feel he is all but a lock to be the Bears' guy when the dust settles next month. It appears somebody else is thinking the same thing—somebody who joined the franchise barely a week ago.
An unexpected face popped up among the entourage of people from Chicago: wide receiver Keenan Allen. The six-time Pro Bowler, decked out in fresh Bears gear, was on the sideline, ready to take in the action. He and Williams even found a moment to share a quick embrace. This is somewhat unprecedented. There isn't a situation in recent memory where an actual player from a team holding the #1 pick was on hand to watch a quarterback perform at his pro day. Perhaps Allen already sees the writing on the wall and wants to start getting an up-close look at the guy who will be throwing him passes this fall.
Allen may also give the Bears experienced eyes on Caleb Williams.
Keep in mind, this is a receiver who has played exclusively with Pro Bowl quarterbacks his entire career. It started with Philip Rivers in the mid-2010s before shifting to Justin Herbert. He knows what the good ones look like. He's seen how they carry themselves, act with teammates, and throw the football. If Allen gets bad vibes from Williams for any reason, the Bears might be wise to listen to him. On the flip side, if the quarterback exudes the same traits as Rivers or Herbert, the decision will be much easier.
More than anything, this is a reminder of why Allen is a terrific receiver. He is so detailed in everything he does. Nothing matters more to the success of his position than the relationship with his quarterback. If Caleb Williams is the guy, he needs to know what he's getting into. The sooner the better. Attending the pro day is a chance to gather information Allen didn't want to pass up. It's honestly surprising nobody else has done this before. Perhaps it will give him a head start on preparing for the season ahead.
It will also be interesting if Allen shows up for any of the other quarterback pro days.
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