It’s been a hard two months for Chicago Bears fans. They know Justin Fields is at a critical development point as a young quarterback. This is usually when a team starts throwing resources in large quantities on the offensive side of the ball. The Bears did precisely that back in 2018 with a flurry of free agency signings like Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Trey Burton. Yet, with the NFL draft almost at hand, new GM Ryan Poles hasn’t done nearly as much.
His only notable additions are new center Lucas Patrick and wide receiver Byron Pringle. Both were part-time starters with their previous teams. Not exactly front-line options in any sense of the word. Meanwhile, other teams are taking significant swings on the trade market. It is becoming harder and harder for some to understand why Poles doesn’t make a move. To answer that question, let’s start with a list of the receivers that have been moved over the past two months or are rumored to be available.
The key detail will be where they were drafted.
- Amari Cooper – 1st round
- Davante Parker – 1st round
- Kadarius Toney – 1st round*
- Davante Adams – 2nd round
- Robert Woods – 2nd round
- Deebo Samuel – 2nd round*
- D.K. Metcalf – 2nd round*
- Tyreek Hill – 5th round
This should serve as a reminder of how Poles views things. It is apparent with such a list that teams consistently find good value at wide receiver outside the 1st round. Don’t forget that the Bears have two 2nd round picks in the 2022 draft. He has every reason to feel confident the team can land a legitimate player in one of those spots. The bonus is they’d control that player for four years at cheap prices. All while they are getting the best seasons of his physical prime.
Chicago Bears don’t think they’re one player from fixing the issue.
Sure, adding a Pro Bowl receiver would help Fields on offense. The problem is that history doesn’t support the idea that one player can change a team’s fortunes at that position—especially a team in its current state like the Bears. Arizona snagged DeAndre Hopkins for pennies in 2020 and still failed to make the playoffs that season, going from 5-10-1 to 8-8. There was nobody of Hopkins’ caliber Poles could get for that price tag.
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The Chicago Bears are becoming a draft-first team. That is a reality fans weren’t ready for. Not after a decade of constant action on the veteran market courtesy of Phil Emery and Ryan Pace. They’d been conditioned to think spending in free agency and making bold trades was the best way for this team to win. Poles is intent on showing them there is another way.
A better way.
Drafting and developing ensure sustained success. The hard part is having patience. After waiting over 30 years and counting, Bears fans are tired of hearing that. They want results. That isn’t their fault. For Poles, his biggest challenge will be weathering the storm of criticism that will continue until he follows through on his promise to find Fields more help. To his credit, he’s handled it well thus far.
