The Chicago Bears have made their intentions clear. GM Ryan Poles understands this team isn’t going to compete for the playoffs. He isn’t interested in sneaking in as a wild card and being one-and-done. That was the most they could hope for right now. Not good enough. If he wants to build a consistent winner, he needs a young, talented, homegrown roster. That requires draft picks. So the team took the massive step of imploding their defense by trading Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith in less than a week.
The moves have netted Chicago 2nd, 4th, and 5th round picks for next year, bringing their total to ten. Poles is fixed on his course. He wants to build this team his way. Yet the craziness might not be over yet. There is still time for more moves to happen. Dan Weiderer of the Chicago Tribune dropped a not-so-subtle hint that Poles may not be done based on the buzz around the league.
There's a bit of chatter inside league circles that the Bears may not be done with their trade activity. There are 23 hours and 46 minutes left until the deadline.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) October 31, 2022
Chicago Bears are focused on unloading Pace guys.
Ryan Pace acquired every player he’s traded to this point. He wants to erase any lingering signs of the previous GM. So it’s safe to say any more moves will involve former Pace picks or free agent signings. When looking over the roster, four names make varying degrees of sense.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
- Eddie Jackson
- David Montgomery
- Cole Kmet
- Jaylon Johnson
Jackson makes the most sense. He turns 29 in December and has the most expensive contract in the group. He’s also playing at an All-Pro level with four interceptions in the first eight games. It isn’t hard to imagine contending teams might be willing to offer sizable packages for his services.
Montgomery will be a free agent next spring. With Khalil Herbert emerging as the primary running back, it would make sense for Chicago to get something back for him before he’s gone. Probably no more than a 5th round pick should be expected. The same goes for Kmet. He’s not a go-to weapon in the passing game, but he’s versatile with decent pass-catching skills and blocking ability.
Johnson might be the biggest surprise mention. It shouldn’t be. Cover corners fetch a ton on the market, especially when they’re young and on rookie contracts. It would take a lot. Most likely a 1st round pick. However, if Poles gets that offer, he may bite. Nothing is off the table.
Now it doesn’t matter. We kind of get an idea of ho the keepers are, and that includes players Poles did not draft…Fields, J. Johnson, Kmet, Mooney, Jenkins, Santos…anyone else?
Monty is a very tough kid with a gr8 attitude. I can’t tell if his running style allows him to get the tough yards or he just makes the yards look tough, if that makes any sense, but man he is a grinder. An underrated pass blocker and receiver and a great leader, I would keep him unless you are getting really good value, 3rd rounder or two late round pics.
@Dean re. Grown Men
Suppose to be grown men is more like it, but professional sports athletes don’t own that as an exclusive. The United States is considering adding yet another category as they did in creating what today is known as adolescence for similar if not same reasoning. The new category would deem an adult becomes an adult at age thirty all because we lost our way in raising children to become adults. That’s all I wanted to commit on what you had to say. Thanks for your reply.
Sooooo here’s the problem (actually two). While I can understand trading players away for draft capital, what’s the plan to replace? Who fills the void for Roquan? Now the rumor is EJax or Jaylon? Ok. Then what? Anyone old enuff to remember Lovie Smith understood it was time. Great coach but couldn’t get over that last hump. Ok fine. But what did they replace him with? Trestman? Fox? Nagy? Look how long it took to get someone we think is competent in Eberflus. The other thing is the impact it may have in the locker room. Yes these are grown… Read more »
C’mon man, Jaylon Johnson ain’t going anywhere, resign him. Kmet too, he’s an inline TE, those guys are hard to find. Maybe Monty or Jackson if they got an offer they can’t refuse?