Multiple reporters insisted that the NFL had ruled that the Chicago Bears would not receive any compensatory draft picks when assistant general manager Ian Cunningham became GM of the Atlanta Falcons. This was because, according to an odd rule, the president of football operations, Matt Ryan, was technically considered the “lead football decision-maker” in the organization. As a result, Cunningham becoming GM was nothing more than a title change, not a true promotion. Never mind that Ryan insisted on two different occasions that every roster decision was Cunningham’s to make.
Well, things took another interesting turn on Tuesday. Bears general manager Ryan Poles stepped to the podium for the first time since January at the scouting combine. The first question was his thoughts on the comp pick issue. It turns out he has been in contact with the NFL about it, believing that, according to the rules in place, the Bears should receive compensation. As of now, he has not gotten a reply on the subject. This means no actual decision has been made yet.
Ian Cunningham echoed Poles’ response.
The new Falcons GM was also at the podium Tuesday morning. He was asked for his take on the situation. From his perspective, Cunningham believes the Bears should receive compensation. While both men admit they wish the Rooney Rule weren’t necessary, the details make it pretty clear that Chicago should get those picks. It’s worth noting that former Bears scouting director Greg Gabriel said weeks ago that no decision was made. He said the NFL would not rule on it until it got the details of Cunningham’s contract.
If Atlanta put it in writing that he was indeed the primary football decision-maker, the Bears would be awarded the picks. A ruling on this probably won’t come until March at the earliest. The Management Council must review it. Until then, the Bears are stuck in limbo. Poles doesn’t have time to dwell on it. He made his case heard and will focus on other business. People may wonder why this is such a big deal. The fact is, every draft pick counts, especially for a team that is limited in spending money.
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Two 3rd-round compensatory picks would create additional opportunities for the Bears to find good players.
| Player | Position | Draft Year | Team | Overall Pick | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hines Ward | WR | 1998 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 92 | 2x Super Bowl Champ, Super Bowl XL MVP, 4x Pro Bowler |
| Mike Vrabel | LB | 1997 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 91 | 3x Super Bowl Champ, 2007 First-Team All-Pro |
| James Conner | RB | 2017 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 105 | 2x Pro Bowler, over 6,000 career scrimmage yards |
| James Stewart | RB | 1995 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 95 | 2x 1,000-yard rusher, franchise leader for Jags/Lions |
| Landon Johnson | LB | 2004 | Cincinnati Bengals | 96 | Started 53 games in 4 seasons with Bengals |
| Dustin Colquitt | P | 2005 | Kansas City Chiefs | 99 | 2x Pro Bowler, Super Bowl LIV Champ, played 15 seasons |
| Alex Highsmith | OLB | 2020 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 102 | Key pass rusher, recorded 14.5 sacks in 2022 |
| LeRoy Hill | LB | 2005 | Seattle Seahawks | 98 | 89 career starts, 20 career sacks for Seahawks |
| Ray McDonald | DE | 2007 | San Francisco 49ers | 97 | 68 starts and 19.5 sacks for 49ers |
| Derrick Rodgers | LB | 1997 | Miami Dolphins | 92 | Started 6 seasons in Miami, over 500 career tackles |
The Bears did the right thing.
They could’ve made a stink about it. Here are other teams, like San Francisco and Los Angeles, being awarded picks without any fuss after losing key assistants elsewhere. Then the Bears lose one of their key talent evaluators and get nothing because of a technicality. That is a bad look for the league and disincentivizes the rule, because now other teams know all they have to do is give another executive an arbitrary title “above” the GM, so the other team gets nothing in return.
Nothing about that makes sense. This is about fairness. Ian Cunningham was a vital part of the Bears’ front office for four years, helping build them into a contender. They were promised compensation if he was hired elsewhere, as per NFL rules. Whether this incentive should exist at all is irrelevant. Facts are facts. Cunningham is a minority hire. It’s been confirmed that he will hold all roster power. That means the Bears are owed those picks. This isn’t complicated.
