Ryan Poles has a type when assessing Chicago Bears draft prospects

NFL general managers have their preferences when it comes to draft prospects. Some prefer players who have strong fundamental skills, while others look for players who may be less polished but have a high upside.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has his draft day preferences. His preferences tend to lean toward those who have a high athletic composition. This is displayed through his tendency to draft prospects with a high RAS score. RAS stands for relative athletic score. RAS is used as a metric to determine a prospect's athletic ability.

Since Ryan Poles took over as general manager of the Bears in 2022, he has shown a preference for a particular type of player, particularly in the first few rounds of the NFL draft. In the 2022 and 2023 drafts, the Bears selected a total of 13 players in rounds 1-5. Of these 13 players, 12 had an RAS of 8 or higher. According to RAS Football, the only player who scored less than an 8 was Velus Jones Jr. with a score of 7.1. Although his RAS was the lowest of this group he showed off his athleticism by running a 4.31 40-yard dash.

The Bears' tendency to focus on high RAS scores has been reflected in their overall roster-building strategy. Most of their position groups have a RAS score higher than the league average. However, there are only three position groups in which the Bears have an average RAS score under the league average. These positions are guard, linebacker, and free safety.

As we look ahead to the 2024 NFL draft, the Chicago Bears might still be in search of young talent to fill some key positions. It wouldn't be unexpected for Bears fans to see the team continue to target prospects with high athletic scores.

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