Latest NFL Power Ranking of front offices prove the Chicago Bears have not arrived

There is plenty to like of what Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has been able to do since taking over the front office three years ago but the start to the 2024 season confirms that Poles is far from perfect.

Even after the Bears' disappointing start to the season, losing two of their first three games, it would be a reach to say that the team's past offseason was a disappointment. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and rookie wide receiver Romem Odunze have already shown growth since their rookie debuts. And, there is still time for the additions of D'Andre Swift and Keenan Allen to pay dividends.

But, the blindness to addressing the weaknesses of the offensive line is a sign that Poles did misevaluate the roster heading into the 2024 season. Poles was walking around this offseason as if he was the cool kid on campus, but the start of the season has proved one thing: the Bears' general manager has yet to be invited into the inner clique.

The Chicago Bears' front office seem to have had a miscalculation.

The Athletic (Subscription Required) recently did a power ranking of the NFL's best front offices and the Bears were no where to be seen among the ten teams listed. Even more concerning is the fact that the Detrit Lions and Green Bay Packers were.

The 2024 season doesn't seem to be the season that the Bears are going to take back the north. Why that is troubling is because both the Lions and Packers seem to have the roster construction to last. This means that not only would the Bears have to overcome the gap in talent they have with the Lions and Packers, but they also have to overcome the gap in the front office. Add in that the Minnesota Vikings might be the surprise team of the 2024 season and the Bears have quickly found themselves at the bottom of the NFC North.

Even more troubling is the idea that the start of this season seems to have confirmed a major mistake made by Poles this past offseason: bringing back Matt Eberflus. Replacing Eberflus will likely be the "in case of emergency, break glass" move for Poles, but it's a move that will increase the pressure on the team's general manager, a general manager who has talked a good game but has yet to see tangible success.