The Chicago Bears had to sit back and watch another postseason unfold without them in it. However, optimism is far higher this time around. They finished the year 7-10, a big improvement from their 3-14 record the year before. Not only that but if not for a series of ugly 4th quarter collapses, they likely would’ve had a winning record. This feels like a team one off-season away from becoming a serious threat in the NFC. There are plenty of reasons to believe they can get the job done, and it starts with the two men at the top.
This year’s AFC championship will be between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, two regular staples of that conference’s playoff picture. Emulating their roster-building styles feels like a smart decision for any organization. As it turns out, the Bears have two men who know them well. GM Ryan Poles started as a scout in Kansas City and helped them build the roster that made them Super Bowl champions in 2019 as a director of player personnel. Assistant GM Ian Cunningham came up in the Ravens’ scouting department through most of the 2010s before getting a big opportunity in Philadelphia.
These guys have seen two of the best in the business operate, and now they’ve brought a blend of those approaches to Chicago.
Chicago Bears fans should be excited for the next four months.
Poles has positioned the team perfectly. He has over $60 million in cap space with the ability to free up another $20 million. He also has two picks in the top 10 of the first round, including the #1 overall pick. If he can hit on both of them, this team will be a far tougher animal to deal with next season. The work Poles and Cunningham did this past year was stellar.
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- D.J. Moore
- Montez Sweat
- Tremaine Edmunds
- T.J. Edwards
- Darnell Wright
- Tyrique Stevenson
- Gervon Dexter
- DeMarcus Walker
All became solid-to-excellent contributors. The Chicago Bears need a quarterback, another receiver, another pass rusher, and a center. If they can secure three of those four, they’ll be ready for a run. Expectations are they will take a quarterback with the #1 overall pick. Caleb Williams is the heavy favorite. If he lives up to the hype, he might finally be the one to alter the trajectory of this franchise. It comes down to whether Poles and Cunningham believe he has what it takes.
