The 2022 NFL season is officially over. Ryan Poles’ former team, the Kansas City Chiefs were crowned Super Bowl 57 champions. This is the second time in four years that the Chiefs have found themselves atop the NFL. Patrick Mahomes is a big reason why, but let’s make sure to give credit to head coach Andy Reid as well. He had the Chiefs competing with Alex Smith under center as well. Can the Chicago Bears find a similar formula? Are the Super Bowl-losing Eagles a better blueprint? Well, Poles and former Eagles’ administrator Ian Cunningham have seen both.
Maybe the Chicago Bears general manager and assistant general manager can come up with their own strategy that incorporates what they believe to be the best approaches from both of their former clubs. What we do know is that Poles stripped down the team and is looking to build it back up. He has the most salary cap space in the league (something that might be a little over-valued, to be honest) and the first-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Chicago Bears have many suitors for the first-overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft
What he doesn’t have though is a second pick in the top 50. As they sit, the Chicago Bears would be picking first overall and then not again until 54. The 54th-overall pick is the second-rounder they received in the Roquan Smith trade. For Ryan Poles to spice things up a bit this April, he needs to find a trade partner that gives him more draft capital within the top 50 this year along with future draft capital for 2024.
In this mock, he wasn’t able to trade down twice as many Bears fans would hope, but he does get his bang for his buck by swapping first-rounders with the Panthers.