One of the bigger concerns for Chicago Bears fans going into this month was the uncertainty around GM Ryan Poles. His first head coach had failed spectacularly, and word came out a few weeks ago that he’d signed a four-year contract, meaning he was going into 2025 on the last year of his deal. The fear became that no top head coach candidate would want to work with him because they knew there was a chance he could immediately be out next year, leaving them in the lurch.
However, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune gave an update that changed things. He explained on 670 The Score that Poles is believed to be under contract through 2026. That means he has two years left on his deal, not one. While he isn’t in direct alignment with new head coach Ben Johnson, it offers more of a cushion for the two to forge a partnership without fear of an immediate change if things don’t go well immediately.
Ryan Poles will be able to prove he has learned from his mistakes.
Sometimes, young general managers must suffer some early failure before getting on track. That was true of Jerry Angelo. His first three 1st round picks were all flops. Marc Colombo couldn’t stay healthy. Michael Haynes was a bust. Rex Grossman never reached his potential. There were also the ill-advised signings of Chris Chandler and Kordell Stewart in free agency. Still, he eventually got better at finding good players, eventually getting the Bears to a Super Bowl in 2006.
The good news is Ryan Poles seems to have done better than Angelo in the 1st round. Darnell Wright, Caleb Williams, and Rome Odunze all look like good players. The trick is improving his hit rate with fewer outright whiffs. There is a belief he’s planning an adjustment in scouting strategy, wanting to focus more on established players and less on upside projects. No doubt Johnson will play a prominent role in this. If things go well, Poles can expect an extension in the near future.
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@TGena Those two moderates should work for Donald, Boris, Bibi, or Elon. They are good at nuanced “intellectual terrorism,” which really means they have been revealed as reptilian by nature. But I digress.
@BearDownTX —
Jalen Carter was selected at #9
(ranked at #7; peaked at #2 — CBB,).
Darnell Wright was selected at #10 (ranked at #17; peaked at #17 — CBB,)
Gervon Dexter Sr. was selected at #54 (ranked at #71; peaked at #47 — CBB,)
Tory Taylor was selected at #122, 2024
(ranked at #201; peaked at #157 — CBB,)
GM Ryan Poles habitually selects his players a “round or two, earlier than the NFL consensus suggests.
Source: NFL Mock Database Consensus Big Board (CBB)
visited: 1-24-25.
@Arnie —
I speak plainly. It’s easy to know where I stand.
From this thread: “Ryan Poles made a prudent move trading the pick the Eagles made Jalen Carter…”
There’s no need to misquote anything I say.
_______________
Red herring and strawman.arguments are the best way to defend Ryan Poles’ 15-36 won-loss record as the Bears GM
But, if that’s the course you set, check with @Dr. Melhus. He’s much more practiced at it, than you.
@TGena I am saying the Bears needed an OT and DT, which means using two picks. Their choices, if you are saying they missed out by not taking Jalen Carter because he’s good, were to proceed with drafting Carter at 9 and then drafting an OT later, which the soonest pick they had after was #53. The tackles they could have selected at that point or later are a long list of nobodies. So, the Bears passed on Carter, they got a high end tackle by doing so, and then at 53, got their DT who statistically is on par… Read more »
Slow down, @Arnie —
Philadelphia took DT, Jalen Carter with the pick (#9) in the 2023 NFL Draft they received from the Bears in exchange for pick #10 and a 2024 fourth-rounder.
With pick #10 (2023) the Chicago Bears selected OT, Darnell Wright.
With the 2024, 4th-round pick (#122), the Bears selected P, Tory Taylor.
Are you including Gervon Dexter Sr. as part of the “CJ Stroud trade” with the Carolina Panthers — the original owner of 2023’s draft pick #9?
This hindsight stuff is fun!