New Info Proves Ryan Poles Has Been 3 Steps Ahead Of Everybody
Whenever discussing Chicago Bears GMs over the years, one fact has been rather inescapable. They never seem to have a high level of awareness regarding modern league trends or how to read a draft from year to year. Jim Finks prioritized a backup running back over Joe Montana in 1979. Jerry Angelo took Cedric Benson over Aaron Rodgers in 2005. The decades have changed but it’s impossible to shake the realization that this franchise has never had the smartest guy in the front office. That may have finally changed with the arrival of Ryan Poles.
It was a shock when the Bears GM traded down from #1 overall last month. Some felt he should’ve used that opportunity to consider a change at quarterback. Barring that, he could’ve had any player he wanted. Yet Poles shrugged that off. He felt there was more value in moving down. Only now, with the draft less than two weeks away, have other teams come to a similar realization. Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog explained.
“This is a complementary draft, not a star draft. Are Tyree Wilson and Will Anderson at the same level of a Myles Garrett? No. Are JSN or Jordan Addison a Justin Jefferson? No. I think all of the aforementioned players are going to be very good at the next level but so are Joey Porter Jr. and Adetomiwa Adebawore. (Looks at these two prospects coming tomorrow and Wednesday.) This is the year where you move back every chance you get because the guys being taken at 25 are not far off talent-wise from the guys being taken at 11. Ryan Poles knows this.”
One of the curious parts of Poles’ move was the speed.
Why was he so intent on getting a deal done quickly? Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus cracked that code as new rumors surfaced regarding the 2023 quarterback class. It appears Bryce Young of Alabama is now a lock for #1 to Carolina. Most would assume C.J. Stroud of Ohio State will go #2 to Houston. Except the Texans are now trying to trade down. That creates a problem since Arizona at #3 wants to move down too. Poles looks smart by the minute for moving as quickly as he did.
Ryan Poles might not even be done yet.
Rumors persist that the Bears GM is working the phones hard to move down a second time. The prevailing belief is he wants to get into the mid-teens range, hopefully securing an additional 2nd round pick. He wants to get a selection somewhere in the 20-45 range, where most believe the strength of this draft class lies. There are already whispers he has some verbal agreement with two or three teams should the player they want remain available when Chicago goes on the clock. One of those teams is Pittsburgh.
It’s rather refreshing to see a Bears GM operate like this. Ryan Poles clearly did his homework on this draft class and keenly understood its strengths and weaknesses. He understood from the jump that the star power was lacking and that teams would eventually cool down on the quarterbacks. It made his mission clear. Unload the pick fast. He did so. Now the Bears are sitting pretty with a talented new receiver and three additional draft picks.