Breaking: Chris Williams rejects new role assigned to him in Matt Eberflus’ defense—is he worth the trade?

Chris Williams hasn’t had much success in the NFL, with just 120 plays and 13 game appearances over three seasons. The success he did find came under Bears coach Matt Eberflus in 2021, which is a big reason why he’s now in Chicago.

“I know his scheme is about attacking, being fast, and utilizing my skillset,” Williams said. “It’s definitely something I feel comfortable with.”

In terms of trade value, the player the Bears acquired from the Browns in exchange for the sixth-round pick they got from Miami for Chase Claypool isn’t expected to make a huge impact in the NFL. The Bears also received a seventh-round pick in the trade along with Williams.

However, the Bears didn’t bring Williams in to be a starting defensive tackle. His role is to provide support to Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings, Zacch Pickens, and possibly Byron Cowart, though he might also replace Cowart on the roster. At 285 pounds, Williams is more suited to a 3-technique role.

The limited success Williams experienced in the NFL that season was largely due to Eberflus’ scheme, which allowed him to aggressively attack inside. This approach, along with the HITS principle Eberflus developed, left a lasting impression on Williams.

“Just hearing him emphasize running to the ball, getting after the ball, and forcing turnovers—honestly, it’s all about the ball, ball, ball. I’ve carried that mentality with me wherever I’ve gone because I know that if you can take the ball away, you can stick around in the league for a long time,” Williams said.

What may have rekindled Eberflus’ interest and caught the attention of GM Ryan Poles was Williams’ performance in a preseason game last week, where he recorded two sacks, three tackles, and a forced fumble. His two sacks made him the preseason leader for the Browns heading into Saturday’s game.

This prompted Poles and Eberflus to see an opportunity in Williams that perhaps wasn’t apparent with other players on the roster, like Michael Dwumfour or Keith Randolph Jr., who were released to make room for Williams.