The first two days of the NFL draft always get the bulk of the attention from fans and media. That isn’t a shock. However, most people who know will tell you drafts can often be won or lost on the final day. That is when the true value of a GM’s ability to scout talent comes to the forefront. Teams that find quality players between the 4th and 7th rounds often find success in January. Based on what top experts are saying, Ryan Poles did outstanding work for the Chicago Bears during the finale of the 2023 draft.
Chad Reuter is one of the primary evaluators for NFL.com. He reviewed every pick made by the Bears and gave Poles a solid A grade for his efforts on Day 3.
“(Roschon) Johnson looks like a power back but can avoid defenders as well as run through their tackle attempts. (Tyler) Scott’s agility and burst after the catch made him a nice fourth-round find. (Noah) Sewell is a much better football player than his fifth-round status might indicate. (Terell) Smith has the athleticism and cover skills to contribute as a rookie.”
Reuter isn’t alone.
Few are more respected in the business than Mel Kiper Jr. He’s been covering the draft for almost 40 years for ESPN. His evaluations are thorough and often solid. While he was skeptical of what the Bears did on the draft’s second day, his attitude completely flipped when Saturday afternoon arrived.
“As for the rest of this class? I’m a fan. Running back Roschon Johnson (115) played behind Bijan Robinson at Texas, but Johnson probably would have started at most other FBS schools. He is powerful between the tackles. Tyler Scott (133) is a slot wideout who runs after the catch like a tailback. Linebacker Noah Sewell (148) was a tackling force in college, and now he’ll get to try to blitz past his brother, Penei, in the NFC North. Terell Smith (165) is my 14th-ranked cornerback, and the Bears got him a round later than I had him going.
I like what general manager Ryan Poles is building in Chicago, and 2024 draft capital he acquired combined with another step forward from quarterback Justin Fields means this team will challenge in the NFC quickly — just not this season.”
Ryan Poles seemed to go on a heater in 4th and 5th rounds.
He started the day with a trade, moving down from 103rd overall to 112th and netting the Saints’ 165th pick in the 5th round. That gave the Bears four picks total between the two rounds. He then collected Johnson, Scott, Sewell, and Smith. From the sound of it, all four players were drafted later than experts projected them going. That is a sign of good value. Johnson and Scott can be immediate contributors on offense, with Scott being a perfect fit for Justin Fields. Sewell will be a special teams guy right away with the upside to start at linebacker. The same goes for Smith at cornerback.
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If Ryan Poles gets two future starters out of those four players, he absolutely crushed Day 3. There is no reason to think he didn’t. He found Braxton Jones late in the 5th round last year. So we know the Bears GM is capable of this. It’s hard not to like his process. Hearing such glowing reviews from established experts is beyond encouraging. Now it will be up to head coach Matt Eberflus and his staff to get the most from these young men.
