Former Bear Thinks Ryan Poles’ First Pick Is An Easy Decision

Ryan Poles may or may not trade down from the #1 overall spot. That is to be determined. Other teams have evaluations to do and figure out if one of these top quarterbacks is worth moving up for. Until then, the Chicago Bears GM must operate with the belief he’ll spend that pick on the best possible player. Nobody can say for sure who that will be. There are always early favorites, but things tend to change once the Senior Bowl and scouting combine happen. Unexpected names gain momentum, and before anybody can blink, they’re picked #1. That happened with Travon Walker last year.

Tom Thayer doesn’t seem to think there will be any surprise if the Bears stay put. Based on what he has watched of this draft class, one player stands out as somebody Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus will have a hard time passing on. That is Georgia defensive tackle, Jalen Carter. The former guard sees a player with enough talent to do pretty much anything he wants on a football field, drawing comparisons to Chris Jones and Kenny Clark in his ability to impact the game in different ways. The big question left to answer is whether the Bears feel he can give them the necessary amount of snaps to be a full-time player.

Ryan Poles’ decision will come down to pick placement.

If he stays at #1, most experts agree it will be between Carter and Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson. Presuming the Bears move down, the conversation will shift from there. The further they drop, the less likely they’ll be able to land Carter. The general consensus is he won’t get out of the top five. If Poles seeks to land him, he likely won’t consider any offers that drop him that far. Then again, there is always the possibility he doesn’t have the same opinion of Carter as others might.

For the amazing flashes he had in college, there are concerns about the pedestrian production he managed. Somebody who is supposedly dominant didn’t show it on the stat sheet. There are also concerns about his conditioning, which Thayer hinted at with the snap questions. This is where Ryan Poles’ evaluation will be critical over the next two months. He had a hand in drafting Jones in Kansas City. If he gets similar vibes from Carter, that pick is a lock. If not, don’t be surprised if the Bears go in a different direction.