Grading the Chicago Bears 2022 trades
Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears made more trades this offseason (and during the season) than I can remember in a single year. Were they all for the better, or were some for the worse?
The Khalil Mack Trade
The first trade that took place happened prior to the start of the 2022 season. It became official on opening day. Khalil Mack was sent to the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick. During the 2022 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears sent that 2023 sixth-rounder back to the Chargers for two of their 2022 seventh-round picks.
Overall, a second-rounder for a player who is as old as Khalil Mack isn’t awful. I would have preferred at least a fifth-rounder paired with it, but I wasn’t too upset by the deal. Mack has had an average season for the Chargers. He started off hot with three sacks in Week 1 but has only gotten to the quarterback four more times since. Mack wasn’t going to be here once the rebuild took shape and sending him out of town for draft capital this year made perfect sense.
The N’Keal Harry Trade
I have no problem with Ryan Poles taking a swing at N’Keal Harry. The Chicago Bears traded for the former first-round pick prior to the start of the 2022 regular season. Unfortunately, Harry was hurt prior to the start of the year and hasn’t amounted to much since returning a few weeks ago. I’d like to see him given more opportunities now that he’s back. Poles sent a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Patriots for him. That’s as close to a ham sandwich as you can get.
The Robert Quinn Trade
The other player that I thought would be traded prior to the 2022 NFL Draft was Robert Quinn. Instead, Ryan Poles held onto Quinn until close to the 2022 NFL trade deadline. The Philadelphia Eagles had been dealing with a few injuries to their defensive line and gave the Chicago Bears a 2023 fourth-round pick for Quinn. Quinn has been a disappointment for the Eagles. He’s missed time and only has two solo tackles and two pressures. The Bears got a solid return for the aging veteran and you have to almost wonder if the Eagles did Ian Cunningham a favor.
The Roquan Smith Trade
I don’t think many fans are happy about the Chicago Bears trading away their young defensive star. In fact, trading Roquan Smith also meant that Ryan Poles sent the team’s two defensive starters to other teams. Seeing Quinn go was easy to swallow, but many couldn’t stand that Smith was sent to Baltimore. Good news for the Chicago Bears though — Jack Sanborn has been a fantastic replacement.
Ryan Poles received a 2023 second-round pick and a 2023 fifth-round pick for Smith. It was a fairly even and fair trade.
The Chase Claypool Trade
Here is the trade that many fans are still scratching their heads about. Ryan Poles send the team’s 2023 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Chase Claypool. As the team keeps losing, that pick gets closer and closer to the top of the round — nearly a late, first-round pick. The team still has a second-rounder from Baltimore that they received in the Roquan Smith trade, however, the Ravens are likely to have a mid-to-late-round pick.
The good news is that Claypool would have likely been one of the top free agents at wide receiver should he be a free agent next year. He isn’t though and the Bears will have him around for at least one final season.
Overall Grade: B-
The Chicago Bears trade down multiple times in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft
The Chicago Bears trade down multiple times in this 2023 NFL mock draft. Ryan Poles adds plenty of talent to the roster with 13 prospects.
Now, if we look at the cumulative offseason moves, including the in-season trades, I will consider how much salary cap space and draft capital the team has heading into 2023. Even though individually the scores may be lower, Ryan Poles looked at the big picture and the future of the franchise and made moves to set this team up for sustained success.