Any assessment of Ryan Poles’ first two years as Chicago Bears general manager must acknowledge that it is incomplete.
Poles mentioned at the Bears end-of-season news conference earlier this month that the team's rebuild is still in progress, with young players developing, roster holes to fill, and major decisions on the horizon.
The most crucial decision is whether Poles will choose a quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, stick with three-year starter Justin Fields, or do both.
As Poles works through such decisions in a critical third offseason, here's a look at 10 of the biggest choices he has made since joining the Bears exactly two years ago Thursday.
1. Trading the 2023 No. 1 draft pick.
When Poles Poles traded the No. 1 draft pick to the Carolina Panthers last March and added first-round picks in 2023 and 2024 and second-round picks in 2023 and 2025 as well as wide receiver DJ Moore.
The trade has worked out well for Poles, particularly with the Panthers’ 2-15 finish resulting in the No. 1 pick this year.
Moore had an impressive season, and the players acquired from the 2023 draft picks, rookie right tackle Darnell Wright and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, showed promise. (The Bears drafted Stevenson with the help of a second trade.)
However, some may criticize the decision to keep Fields as the Bears starter instead of choosing a quarterback prospect like C.J. Stroud, who was selected at No. 2.
Due to Stroud’s success in leading the Houston Texans to the playoffs as a rookie, Poles was asked this month if he felt like his team made a mistake.
“You have to consider what’s best for your team,” Poles said. “So when you look at that situation and how it played out, to have DJ, to have Darnell, to have Stevenson, to have the first overall (pick) and to have the second(-round pick) next year, I feel like that’s the best for our organization.”
Now Poles has the opportunity to further enhance the return of the trade depending on what he does with the 2024 No. 1 pick — setting up what could be a pivotal moment in team history on April 25.
2. Hiring Matt Eberflus — and retaining him.
Two days after the Bears hired Poles as GM on Jan. 25, 2022, Poles chose Eberflus as his head coach from a group of finalists that included Dan Quinn and Jim Caldwell.
Poles expressed confidence in Eberflus at the introductory news conference, citing Eberflus's plan as a key factor in his hiring decision.
Poles has continued to show his support for Eberflus despite the coach’s 10-24 record, including 2-10 in the NFC North, over two seasons. Poles affirmed this month that Eberflus would be back for a third season, noting Eberflus’ leadership and stability during a challenging season that included a 2-7 start, defensive coordinator Alan Williams’ sudden departure, and ongoing quarterback speculation as reasons for retaining the coach in 2024.
Poles stated that during tough times, Eberflus was able to keep the team together, which he considers crucial in a big market like this. He also emphasized Eberflus' coaching detail and the progress he observed, crediting Eberflus for the team's improved performance. Poles believed that without Eberflus, the team would have struggled and lacked unity.
Poles and Eberflus have been open to parting ways with other coaches. The Bears dismissed running backs coach David Walker in the middle of the season for not meeting team conduct standards, and let go of offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and four other assistants this month, according to Poles.
However, Poles tied the Bears’ future success to Eberflus, stating that his defense showed clear improvements by the end of the season.
By choosing consistency, Poles decided against hiring certain top offensive coaching candidates who aspire to become head coaches instead of an OC. Poles seemed confident in his choice. Eberflus brought in new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, the former Seattle Seahawks OC and play caller, to lead the Bears' next quarterback.
3. Acquiring defensive end Montez Sweat.
On locker clean-out day at Halas Hall, Sweat described it as a “cool stat” to be the first player in NFL history to lead two teams in sacks in one season. He obtained 6 1/2 sacks with the Washington Commanders and then six with the Bears after Poles traded for him for a 2024 second-round draft pick.
“But when I think about it, I feel like I could have achieved more,” Sweat expressed. “So I’m going to assess that over the offseason and come back prepared.”
Sweat made a strong start with the Bears as a key factor in the late-season defensive improvement. He recorded 14 quarterback hits and 21 pressures, according to Pro Football Reference, and became what Poles referred to as “a multiplier.”
“He boosted the entire defense,” Poles remarked. “Bringing in players like him made everyone more confident. It had an impact on the whole team. We saw more interceptions and more wins. The 'Tez Effect.' Really proud of that acquisition. He’s also a great person.”
Poles took a risk by trading for Sweat before securing a contract extension. However, the Bears signed Sweat to a four-year, $98 million contract four days after the trade, and the early results are promising, although Sweat still has a lot to prove to justify the contract.
4. Exchanging Khalil Mack, a player who excels at rushing the quarterback, for something valuable in return.
Poles made a bold move at the start of his career with the Bears by trading their best player.
Poles’ deal involving Mack and the Los Angeles Chargers This trade, done in March 2022, signaled the beginning of a multiyear reconstruction. The Bears acquired important draft picks, which they used to get second-round safety Jaquan Brisker, seventh-round safety Elijah Hicks, and seventh-round punter Trenton Gill. They also freed up some money under the salary cap.
Poles expressed understanding for potential fans' displeasure at the trade, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision. He emphasized that it was his responsibility to make choices that benefit the organization in the present as well as the future.
Certainly, the Bears could still benefit from having a player like Mack, who, at 32, achieved his best performance with 17 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, and 10 passes defended. He was selected as a Pro Bowler twice during his two seasons with the Chargers.
5. Choosing right tackle Darnell Wright over defensive tackle Jalen Carter during the draft.
Many analysts considered Carter to be the most talented defensive player in the 2023 draft, but his pre-draft period was tumultuous.
Before the NFL scouting combine, reports emerged about Carter's involvement in a crash that resulted in the death of a Georgia teammate and staff member. Carter, who was driving a separate vehicle, later admitted no contest to misdemeanor charges of racing and reckless driving. In the midst of this turmoil, Carter also struggled during his pro day workout in Georgia.
When Carter was available as the 9th pick, Poles opted to trade back one spot, enabling the Philadelphia Eagles to pick Carter and earning the Bears a fourth-round pick in 2024. The Bears then selected Wright as their first-round pick at No. 10..
Both Carter and Wright were honored as part of the Pro Football Writers of America's all-rookie team this week. Carter achieved six sacks, nine hits on the quarterback, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and a touchdown from a fumble recovery while playing for the Eagles. Wright began all 17 games for the Bears as the right tackle.
Poles stated this month that he is very pleased with the decision and spoke highly of Wright's potential.
Poles praised Wright for his excellent performance and ongoing efforts to refine his technique. He emphasized the importance of developing a strategy against various pass rushers and expressed confidence in Wright's ability to become an outstanding player once he masters these aspects.
He added that despite using his natural ability as a rookie, Wright needs to continue improving, noting his resilience and strength.
6. Exchanging linebacker Roquan Smith and defensive end Robert Quinn.
During the season and a half following Poles' exchange of Smith to the Baltimore Ravens for second- and fifth-round draft picks, Smith has twice been recognized as an All-Pro and has contributed to the Ravens' advancement to the AFC championship game this season.
Poles stated that during the November 2022 trade, he and Smith couldn't agree on a contract extension. The Ravens awarded Smith with a five-year, $100 million deal.
Poles expressed doubt at the time, questioning whether they would ever find common ground. He felt it was unlikely, leading them to decide to enhance their roster immediately rather than risk losing him without gaining benefit. This ultimately led to their decision to move forward at that time.
Poles used the draft picks from the trade to acquire defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and linebacker Noah Sewell. He praised Dexter's progress in his rookie year. However, it's reasonable to question why the Bears couldn't reach an agreement with Smith.
The trade of Quinn to the Eagles hasn't raised as many questions, despite Quinn's impressive 18 1/2 sacks with the Bears in 2021. Quinn didn't play in the following season after being charged with hit-and-run and assault in August in South Carolina, as reported by ESPN. The Bears selected wide receiver Tyler Scott with the fourth-round pick, and he had a somewhat challenging rookie season.
7. Signing linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards.
The other side of the Smith trade is the Bears signed two linebackers in the offseason who thrived as the season progressed and also became influential team leaders.
The Bears secured Edmunds with a four-year, $72 million contract and Edwards with a three-year, $19.5 million contract, which now seems like a bargain given his performance in 2023.
Both players achieved the type of ball production the Bears hoped to see from Smith. Edmunds earned the Bears Ballhawk Award for 2023 after recording four interceptions, including a pick-six, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Edwards contributed with three interceptions, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
“You can kind of see it from when they got here just how competitive they are,” linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi mentioned last month. “It’s been pretty consistent throughout the whole season, just their love and passion to play the game, and it carries over to Sunday. How they prepare really affects how they play on Sunday, and the way they prepare is unbelievable. It kind of rubs off on the rest of the group, and it’s been such a positive impact not just for the play on the field but the guys around them as well.”
8. Signing tight end Cole Kmet to an extension.
Poles’ first extension for a player the Bears drafted took place in July when Kmet inked a four-year, $50 million deal. Kmet expressed his desire to prove the Bears right at the time and subsequently delivered his best season in four years, amassing 73 catches for 719 yards and six touchdowns.
“We’ve seen Cole improve steadily since we arrived,” Poles commented following the extension. “We’re enthusiastic about his growth. He embodies everything we seek in a Bear: hard work, commitment, and how he conducts himself in the locker room. He’s a true professional.”
Kmet’s extension, however, occurred between two that the Bears were unable to finalize, namely the aforementioned Smith negotiations and discussions with cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Talks with Johnson collapsed at the 2023 trade deadline, leading to his request for a trade that didn't materialize. However, Poles expressed confidence last month in the Bears' ability to reach an agreement with the cornerback this offseason.
9. Drafting three players in the secondary with second-round picks.
One of the main focuses during Poles’ first two offseasons has been to reconstruct the Bears secondary.
Poles used second-round picks in 2022 to select cornerback Kyler Gordon and Brisker, then used another second-round pick to pick Stevenson in 2023. Poles also added fifth-round cornerback Terell Smith last spring.
This has resulted in a promising young group with more experienced players like Johnson and safety Eddie Jackson. The result has been a promising young group anchored by more veteran players in Johnson andsafety Eddie Jackson
At nickel, Gordon made significant progress from his first to second year, and Brisker also continued developing. Stevenson and Smith experienced challenges but also showed potential that excited the Bears about the group under cornerbacks coach Jon Hoke.
If Johnson returns and the players remain healthy, it could be a strength in 2024.
“You’ve got to give all the credit to those guys. The work they put in is incredible,” Poles said on the team’s pregame radio show in December. “I look out my window even after practice, for 20-30 minutes after, and those guys are still working on ball skills to be able to finish and get interceptions to the little footwork, nuances of the position and the different coverages. They put a lot of work in and they’re reaping the benefits.”
Of course, building the secondary in this way has resulted in a lack of depth in other positions, and the Bears still need help on the offensive line and at wide receiver.
10. Acquiring Chase Claypool through a trade — and then trading him away.
Poles provided an interesting piece of information while expressing gratitude towards Chairman George McCaskey and President and CEO Kevin Warren earlier this month.
Poles stated that he was evaluating a trade midseason that didn’t go well, logging it as a decision to discuss how he can improve.
“We discussed this, and both of them supported me, saying, ‘Keep taking your chances, man. If your log shows that it feels right and it's going to help our team, keep taking your chances,’” Poles said.
Poles did not mention whether the trade he regretted was the acquisition of Claypool in November 2022, but that was one of Poles’ biggest mistakes during his short time in the role. He traded a second-round pick for Claypool, who then recorded only 18 catches for 191 yards and a touchdown in 10 games with the Bears. The team benched Claypool in October due to poor performance both on and off the field and then traded him to the Miami Dolphins for a 2025 sixth-round pick. the November 2022 acquisition of Claypool, but that was among the biggest errors of Poles’ short tenure thus far. He traded a second-round pick for Claypool, who then managed just 18 catches for 191 yards and a touchdown in 10 games with the Bears. The team benched Claypool in October for poor performance on and off the field and then traded him to the Miami Dolphins for a 2025 sixth-round pick.
However, Poles continued to take chances. Twenty-five days after parting with Claypool, Poles acquired Sweat, and the Bears defense began its turnaround, which in turn helped make a case for Eberflus to retain his job.
A series of decisions awaits in 2024.
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