5 worst decisions Ryan Poles made in year one as Chicago Bears GM

Chicago Bears whiffed on Velus Jones

Yes, they are all sort of blending together here. Passing on George Pickens led him to Velus Jones. Jones being so bad led him to Chase Claypool. It is all tied together. As we mentioned, there was a tier break, and Ryan Poles missed it.

Still, even knowing the break was there many saw Velus Jones as a reach. Jones managed 107 yards. The only two wideouts drafted ahead of him to be worse are John Metchie, and Jameson Williams, and both missed the majority of the year.

Meanwhile, players drafted after Jones to produce more include David Bell, Romeo Doubs, Khalil Shaki, and Jalen Nailor. What really stings about those names is that most were widely accepted as better prospects than Velus Jones. We also had write-ups for every one of those wideouts. This is not revisionist history.

Velus Jones has flashed a bit on kick returns and started to get a knack for chasing down returns as well. Still, he lost his job on punt returns and was inactive earlier in the year. Again, when you think that a combination of George Pickens and Coby Bryant could be here, but instead it is Jones and Kyler Gordon, it is a tough pill to swallow.

Beyond that, all three decisions here combine to make you question Poles and his ability to bring in the right wideouts. Passing on Pickens, trading for Claypool, and drafting Jones is joined by signing Byron Pringle to more money than Dante Pettis and Equanimeous St. Brown combined.

Draft, trade, and free agency failed to produce much. He has more resources, but there was potential for a much better group with what he was given last season.