Plenty of people were surprised when the Chicago Bears selected Ruben Hyppolite in the 4th round. Most hadn’t heard of the Maryland linebacker up to that point. Some experts had him as a likely undrafted free agent. That made him an immediate reach in the fans’ eyes. Others inside the NFL felt he was good enough to be drafted. Given the lack of depth in the 2025 class, most teams were taking fliers on great athletes. It was a case of picking your preference. The Bears clearly liked Hyppolite.
What wasn’t known was where he’d fit on defense. With Jack Sanborn gone, most felt he might shift to strong-side linebacker in Dennis Allen’s new scheme. Others thought he’d stay at his original middle linebacker spot, serving as a backup to Tremaine Edmunds. That, too, might not be the case. Former tight end Clay Harbor pointed out the Bears moved Hyppolite to weak-side linebacker during OTAs. That leads to an interesting question.
Was one of the main reasons they drafted him a means to give T.J. Edwards competition?
Ruben Hyppolite is tailor-made for the weak side.
That position is designed for the speed linebackers. The rookie was clocked at 4.39 during his pro day. He can fly. Edwards has been a terrific player for the Bears. However, some feel he took a step back last year, not making the same number of plays. That didn’t stop Chicago from giving him a contract extension. That said, they may have felt the need for some insurance. Drafting Ruben Hyppolite doesn’t give them an immediate replacement, but it does provide a talented option they can develop for the next year or two. If Edwards stays good? That is fine. They will have Hyppolite waiting in the wings if he shows an obvious decline. It isn’t a bad idea. In the meantime, he should be able to contribute on special teams.
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@TGena – as usual, you put out facts, while the Poles fan club attempts to drown facts out with gibberish. The fact is – if you spend enough money, and are given enough years – you WILL get better. The law of averages says you must… but here’s the thing, that’s often an illusory form of improvement. It’s not improvement based on a carefully constructed plan – but the sort of soft improvement that comes from a large, quick investment of resources. It’s the equivalent of a sugar rush as opposed to the results of a proper diet. And it… Read more »
My primary foci for a year leading up to the 2025 draft were RBs, DL, S. In the Bears-Bills trades, I easily prefer the three Bills players. On Tankathon’s Big Board, they were much more prominent and moved up slightly over several months. They also had VG physical traits. Buffalo captured three of the better DL. Poles delivered a miracle to the Bills. And Poles could not even select a noted RB until the 7th/8th round. No real safety as well. In a slightly positive-sum trade situation, we might say that Poles was penny-wise and pound foolish. TGena is correct,… Read more »
@Tred — Unfortunately, I’m quite sure you’re absolutely right. Bears fans (at least many of Erik .Lambert’s avid readers) will credit Ryan Poles for “fixing” the O-line in a single NFL off-season (ignoring the role of HC Ben and his competent crew; as well as the $129.5MM total hit on the salary cap(s) over the term of their contracts). Jonah Jackson, $52.5MM, 3 yrs. Drew Dalman, $42MM, 3 yrs. Joe Thuney, $35MM, 2 yrs. 2025 cap hit(s): Jonah Jackson, $14,750,000 Drew Dalman, $13,640,000 Joe Thuney, $8,000,000 _________ Compare and contrast the manner in which a competent NFL GM, Brandon Beane… Read more »
@TGena –
The Bears have been so brutally bad under Ryan Poles that a simple reversion to the mean would indicate that a 9-8, or 10-7 season is DUE.
The question I have – when it happens – how many Poles fans will immediately start dancing on tables and shouting from rooftops that “proof” of Poles genius has arrived? I’d imagine there will be quite a few… in the meantime, percentages and the law of averages will continue to work the same way they always have.
Ask Ryan Pace about that.
Let’s wait to see what they get from him on the field. Given Poles record in rounds 3 and 4, we will be lucky if plays special teams decently.