People were shocked when the Chicago Bears not only traded the #1 overall pick but did so far sooner than anybody has ever seen in the modern era. Most blockbuster trades like that don’t happen until the end of March or early April. To do so on March 10th was breaking new ground. GM Ryan Poles said he preferred to get a deal done before the start of free agency. That would help the Bears get a better feel for what their priorities were and how they should attack the veteran market. In truth, there might’ve been another motivation.
It’s possible Poles sensed his window of opportunity was small because of the 1st round quarterbacks. The hype around top names like Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis was high in March. However, the Bears GM likely understood there was a shelf life on that. If he waited too long, the trade value of the #1 pick could sag. Confirmation of that thought process arrived via Matt Miller of ESPN. From what he’s hearing, the trade market has all but dried up with the draft almost at hand.
The closer we get to Thursday, the harder it is to identify the team willing to trade into the No. 2 or No. 3 overall spot. “There’s no one worth trading up for,” is how one AFC general manager put it to me when asked why there’s a lack of buzz about trade movement. This could change, of course, once the Panthers make a selection, but word on the street is that while the Texans and Arizona Cardinals might want to trade down from their respective picks, no team is anxious to trade up with them.
Ryan Poles can complete a franchise-altering move at #9.
He’s already set the Bears up beautifully with the trade down. He procured star wide receiver D.J. Moore and three additional picks in the deal with Carolina. That includes a 1st rounder in 2024. If he can turn that 9th overall pick into a good player as well, people might remember that move as one of the most important in franchise history. If nothing else, Poles deserves credit for having the instinct to know the right time to make the move. Previous Bears GMs would’ve hemmed and hawed, and by the time they came to a decision, it would’ve been too late.
The jury is still out on Ryan Poles as a talent evaluator. Yet there is no denying the man has the necessary character traits for his job. He knows when to be decisive, is detailed in his approach, and isn’t afraid to wheel and deal. The Bears already landed one good player before the draft even began. Now they have a chance to double up with added knowledge they’ll have nine more picks after tonight. One couldn’t ask a GM to put his team in a better position. The bases are loaded. All Poles has to do is make good contact.
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