This was the first real offseason that we got to see what Ryan Poles could do as the Chicago Bears General Manager. This was the year that Poles had his draft picks, and his cap space, and not the leftovers from the previous GM. No wonder, this offseason has been met with more praise than others.
So, what were the best decisions that Ryan Poles made to guide the Chicago Bears back up in 2023?
5. Chicago Bears decided to invest in Justin Fields
Ryan Poles was at a legitimate crossroads when the season. He had the number one overall pick, which could have meant plenty of things. It could have meant that he saw that all he needed to see in Justin Fields, and that it was time to move. He could have taken any quarterback that he wanted.
Of course, the other door was to use that pick to invest in Justin Fields. He could have said that Fields was not the reason they lost so much, and an offseason supporting him may end up better than an offseason starting all over again. Ryan Poles chose this route. We think this will be the smart route.
First, if the debate is about Bryce Young or Justin Fields, it is hard not to think that the size had a major deciding factor. Beyond that, the Chicago Bears still did not have a roster where they could draft Bryce Young, and feel good. They still did trade the 32nd pick for Chase Claypool so that they could take a quarterback first, but that would be it for a while in the draft, and the team would not have upgraded the roster as much.
The Chicago Bears were in a spot where the roster was worse than the quarterback. Ryan Poles made the right decision to use the number one overall pick to make life easier for any quarterback, rather than throwing another one into an awful spot. That makes sense.
4. Chicago Bears got a haul for the number one overall pick
Beyond Ryan Poles deciding that Justin Fields was worth keeping and not taking a quarterback number one, Ryan Poles did a masterful job of trading the number one overall pick. Everything he did poorly in the Chase Claypool trade that scared you, he redeemed with this trade.
First, he called his shot after the NFL Combine. He said that he wanted multiple firsts and a player and he said that he did not care how far they dropped. Then, he got numerous firsts, D.J. Moore, and he moved down to nine when so many thought the Colts or Texans would be a front-runner for the pick.
In getting D.J. Moore he did his job to help Justin Fields. This is as close to A.J. Brown or Stefon Diggs getting traded this offseason, so he did what the Bills and Eagles did to help their quarterbacks. More than that, he got the pick that wound up being moved into being Tyrique Stevenson. A future first does not hurt as well. Especially coming from a team starting a rookie quarterback.
So, Ryan Poles turned that number one pick into multiple pieces that help them win next year, and he still had a little left to win with next year as well. This was as good of a trade as you can find.
3. Chicago Bears went offensive line in the top 10
When the Chicago Bears traded down to nine, it became obvious that the team had to draft an offensive tackle. The debate should not have been what position, but rather would they take Paris Johnson, Broderick Jones, or Darnell Wright? Ryan Poles taking Darnell Wright was a no-brainer, as it had to be between him and Jones.
The Chicago Bears hope that they will not be picking this high again. They have the Panthers' draft pick but have no clue what that will amount to yet. From where they stand, there may never be a better chance for the team to find a quality tackle who can start for five seasons on a cheap contract than now.
Yes, the Chicago Bears found Braxton Jones last year, but that type of hit is so rare, and a lot of fans still need to see him this year before declaring anything. Most of the best tackles in the NFL get drafted high and then get paid huge money. The ones like Mike McGlinchey that getaway may be a bit overrated, but they still make huge money.
So, the Chicago Bears could have paid McGlinchey $18M even though that is probably too much. Or, they could have had Wright on a cheap deal for the next five years. it is a no-brainer. Tackles are too hard to find; when they hit, they are impossible to pry away. If you can, it will cost multiple first-round picks or an overpay. Passing up a potential starting tackle in the top ten is too much of a bad business decision to pass up, and it may be a chance that they will not see it again.
2. Gervon Dexter has star potential for the Chicago Bears
A lot of people put this is a negative move, but I could not be further on the other side. This is someone who was saying that Gervon Dexter had the chance to be the next Chris Jones, and this was before the 2023 NFL draft. So, when Ryan Poles, the guy who was in the room when Chris Jones gets drafted says the same thing, I tend to agree with him.
The best part of Dexter is that the Chicago Bears double-dipped at pass rusher. Some thought that was too much, but the team needed it. First, neither Andrew Billings nor Justin Jones are locked down long-term. Neither is the long-term answer, either. More than that, we know Matt Eberflus needs to get pressure from the inside more than the outside. He has been looking for inside rush since day one.
So, with Zacch Pickens, the Chicago Bears drafted the guy who is older, more experienced, and ready to start day one. With Gervon Dexter they drafted the high-end traits and the player who could hit the highest ceiling. This makes too much sense, and it is a perfect fit.
It will allow Eberflus to be careful with Dexter, ease him into the rotation, and set him up to get the best out of him. Still, with Pickens, they upgraded the room. The Bears will rotate four rushers with Pickens, Dexter, Billings, and Justin Jones. The three names added to Justin Jones were all needed, making this room much better.
1. Chicago Bears saved and improved at running back
The Chicago Bears let go of a fan favorite in David Montgomery. It had fans saying that Ryan Poles is cheap and does not know what he is doing. It took Montgomery being on the Lions for about a week to change Bears fans' tune on him.
Beyond that, how can Bears fans be made about what happened to Montgomery, when he redid the room as impressively as he did?
First, he signed D'onta Foreman and Travis Homer. They combined to make less than $4M per year and are perfect fits next to Khalil Herbert. Foreman has more explosion than Montgomery, but can take the power carries, while Travis Homer is a better pass catcher and pass protector.
On top of that, they added Roschon Johnson in the 2023 NFL draft. Roschon Johnson is a strong combination of power and pass-catching, and he could eventually step in as a combination of Homer and Foreman. When you add in the speed of Khalil Herbert, the room is a perfect group of complementary pieces.
What makes it impressive is the cost. On a per-year basis, the Chicago Bears will be paying these four a combined $5.2M, while David Montgomery signed a three-year deal worth $18M, so he will be making $6M per year.
In terms of first-year cap hits, the Chicago Bears are paying slightly more this year, but for the next two years, it is not close, the Lions are paying more for Montgomery than the four Chicago Bears runners combined.
Being able to assemble such a talented and diverse group at a cost that is better than signing a fan favorite in Montgomery should be commended. Thanks to these decisions, he has the team in a much better spot from now on.