One thing we’ve learned about GM Ryan Poles over the past two years as Chicago Bears GM is that there’s always a method to his madness. This has become particularly true regarding his use of top-30 visits in the lead-up to a draft. For those who don’t know, every NFL team is allotted 30 private visits with various draft prospects. Some teams use them to dig deeper into certain players they love. Others use them to gather up-to-date medical information. Still others use them to get a head start on recruiting for undrafted free agency. That is what the Bears did in 2022. Then, last year, they ended up meeting with multiple players they expected to go in the 2nd round range since they had two picks there.
This time around, something interesting has unfolded. The Bears have met with the unexpected top 10, including the wide receivers. Yet that isn’t the wrinkle. If you pay attention to the names popping up, you’ll start to notice a pattern.
- TE Brock Bowers (Georgia)
- OT JC Latham (Alabama)
- DE Laiatu Latu (UCLA)
- OT Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma)
- DE Chop Robinson (Penn State)
- IOL Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon)
- IOL Graham Barton (Duke)
- WR Xavier Worthy (Texas)
- WR Ladd McConkey (Georgia)
All of those players are projected to go somewhere in the middle-to-late 1st round. So either the Bears are contemplating the idea of taking one of them with their #9 pick, or more likely, they have legitimate designs on trading down. Meeting with such players gives them plenty of information on who they will want to take in the even they do drop.
The Chicago Bears seem to have a plan in place.
That plan is relatively straightforward. They will take Caleb Williams at #1 overall and then wait to see how things unfold over the next seven picks. There is a strong probability that Poles has a short list of names for which he would stay put at #9. However, in the event all of them are off the board, the Bears are certain to work the phones to move down. Rumors persist there could be multiple teams hoping to come up for an offensive tackle or even one of the top receivers if Poles is willing to pass on one of them.
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It is a safe assumption the Chicago Bears will try to secure another Day 2 pick. They only have four picks total in this draft. During his time in Kansas City, the Chiefs never had fewer than six in any draft. That could be the floor he shoots for. Nabbing a 2nd rounder from somebody would be the dream, but that feels unlikely unless he’s willing to drop into the bottom of the teens. Everything hinges on how confident the Bears are they can still land a good player if and when they move down.
Remember last year? Carter was supposed to be the #1 pick, and the Bears passed on him late. Young was the next Joe Montana, um, guess not. Poles is a gambler, a stoneface player. Anything can happen.
It seems so obvious what Poles is doing that this column should be titled “Clickbait 101”. Poles HAS TO get a feel for players he would draft at pick 9 (or above) as well as after so that when the draft comes and things start falling into place, they have their ducks in a row and know the answer to “ok, no stud WRs left, but there is a QB and if we trade back who would we like at the pick theyhave to trade to us?” There is only 15 minutes (?) per pick in the first round so… Read more »
Actually an article of all 30 visiting players would be more informational than guessing what Poles is thinking.
If one of the top three receivers are there at 9 I hope he takes them. However, a team might be willing to give a lot to move up to nab one of them. I wouldn’t be mad if they traded down and picked up center Powers as I think they still need a legit and strong center to anchor the O-line.
I still think it’s possible that the Bears have 17-19 blues on their board, including 5-6 purples. I could see them valuing guys with NFL traits like size, power, length over quick smaller guys like Turner. So, for example, if they have a green light medically on Latu but expect him to drop to mid-teens as other teams are hesitant, they could plan on moving down and grabbing a guy they have a very high grade on while adding some value in later rounds. The might also have other OT’s in the same tier as Alt for their scheme that… Read more »