Ryan Poles Could Be Building Chicago’s Offense For A Different First- Round Quarterback Prospect

The Chicago Bears sparked excitement on Thursday night when the team traded a fourth-round selection to the Los Angeles Chargers in return for six-time Pro Bowl wider receiver Keenan Allen. The acquisition comes as Bears’ general manager Ryan Poles has faced criticism for the lack of action once free agency started on Monday. Pairing Allen with Moore gives Chicago one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL, but with how the two pass-catchers play, it appears Poles is setting up the offense for a rookie quarterback that may not be USC standout Caleb Williams.

Ryan Poles Could Be Building The Offense For Drake Maye

With the acquisition of Allen, Chicago gets one of the best and most consistent pass-catchers in the league, as the former Charger has had five seasons of 100 receptions or more, along with six seasons of 1,000 yards or more. The only concerns tied to the trade is the receiver’s age and injury history, as he has 15 games over the past four seasons. Allen is regarded as one of the best, if not the best route runner in the NFL, and coupled with Moore, could give the Bears their first two 1,000-yard receivers since 2013.

Similar to Allen, Moore is regarded as a consistent pass-catching threat due to his route-running ability mixed with his versatility of being able to play both inside and out. Trading for the Chargers’ best wide receiver is intriguing, given Chicago’s current situation at the quarterback position. Fans and the media were locked in a fierce debate on whether the team should keep Justin Fields or draft Williams with the first overall selection. Having two wide receivers similar to one another in Allen and Moore was a curious decision because of how both quarterbacks appear to play best with a different style of pass-catchers.

Williams is seen as dual-threat passers who relies on his mobility to create openings downfield for offensive targets. Especially with the USC prospect, a lot of significant passing-plays were generated due to eluding pressure, scrambling, and find wide receivers who broke off their routes. Although Moore it capable of breaking off a route to assist his quarterback, Allen lacks the speed at this point of his career to consistently do it.

Williams, in college, relied on pass-catchers with quick-twitch ability to break off their routes and slip from coverage. Poles could be building an offense best suited for a pocket-passer prospect, which could be North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Maye is seen as the second-best quarterback heading into the 2024 NFL Draft and is respected for his accuracy and ability to throw with anticipation from the pocket. The North Carolina’s quarterback has been compared to Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, both of whom are viewed as some of the league’s best pocket passers.

An issue that some draft analysts have with Maye is a dip in his passing statistics from 2022 to 2023, as there was a noticeable decline across the board. The dip in numbers has been attributed to a lack of talent at the pass-catcher position, as several times, the quarterback threw receivers open with anticipation, only to have the throws dropped. Giving Maye two of the most consistent and reliable wide receivers can potentially ensure quick success for the rookie.

Building The Offense For Maye Makes Sense Given The Moves This Offseason

With a limited amount of draft selections following the Allen trade, along with the lack of significant free agent signings, Poles appears to be setting up for a surprise move. The two signings made this week, including running back D’Andre Smith and tight end Gerald Everett, both of whom have had success but are not prominent names at the position. The signings fit the traits of new offensive coordinator Sane Waldron’s scheme, as he relies on a speedy running back and two tight end sets. Additionally, Waldron’s system focuses on spreading the ball around to multiple pass-catching targets via a pocket-passing quarterback.

During Waldron’s time with the Seattle Seahawks last season, there were at least three players with 60 receptions or more. Having Moore and Allen with tight ends Everett and Cole Kmet gives the Bears’ offense four players who have had 58 receptions in a season. It appears likely that the goal for the Waldron is to have as many consistent and reliable pass-catchers as possible.

Trading multiple mid-round selections in this year’s draft in return for offensive lineman Ryan Bates and Allen gives off the inclination that Poles may trade one of the Bears’ two first-round picks to get multiple picks for days two and three of the draft. One scenario may involve trading with the Washington Commanders to get a historical return of selections and a player to only move down one spot. If Poles can get multiple selections and Maye by moving back one spot, it would be the best outcome other than drafting Williams first overall.

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The Allen trade, on the surface, could be the Bears’ front office solidifying the offense in general, but acquiring a route-running pass-catcher who is most productive with a pocket-passer appears to be telling. If Poles believes Williams and Maye are similar in talent, he may decide to trade back one spot and draft the pocket passer, having an environment in place for him to succeed while also acquiring draft stock. Allen and Moore teaming with a potential rookie wide receiver will give Chicago a top-end wide-receiver group for any quarterback that starts for the team in 2024.