If the Bears are interested in Caleb Williams, and he’s interested in them, they don’t need to wait three weeks to make it official. According to NFL rules, the team holding the first pick can sign their eventual selection before the draft.
However, the NFL generally discourages sharing draft-related information beforehand. They prefer to keep the suspense alive for the TV audience during the draft. If the Bears sign Williams early, it removes any suspense about the first pick.
Even though contracts for draft picks are now standard and easy to negotiate, there’s no advantage for the team in having the player under contract before the draft.
According to league rules, Williams wouldn’t be allowed to participate in the Bears’ offseason program if he signs before the draft.
Before 2011, it was common for teams to sign the first pick before the draft. The process was more complex, and some teams used the possibility of drafting someone else to negotiate terms. However, since the 2011 CBA introduced the rookie wage scale, no player has signed before the draft.
