Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles got to take a small victory lap on Monday. The team officially signed right tackle Darnell Wright to a lucrative four-year contract extension, ensuring he stays put for the foreseeable future. He was Poles’ first 1st round pick as a GM. For him to become a second-team All-Pro and a linchpin of the offensive line was validation that the decision to trade down in 2023 was the right one. That said, Poles’ reputation among fans has remained somewhat uneven. For all the success the team is enjoying with their recent draft classes, the same can’t be said of their free agent moves. Is Devin Bush changing that?
Poles has a dubious track record of big moves in March. Among the most controversial include the aborted signing of Larry Ogunjobi, Nate Davis, Gerald Everett, and, most recently, Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett. You could include Drew Dalman since he abruptly retired after one season with the team. Aside from one or two bright spots like Kevin Byard and T.J. Edwards, it’s been a long list of disappointment. By the sound of things, that opinion might need to shift as his 2026 class is making an early impression.
Devin Bush was at the center of it on Monday.
“There was plenty to notice about the free-agent linebacker before the final play of practice when he got about as aggressive as you will see a defensive player be in training camp — hitting Burden hard from behind to break up Williams’ throw at the goal line…
…Bush made his presence known before the hit. He is one of the few linebackers in the league with the speed and lateral ability to pursue a player like Williams. The quarterback was scrambling when Bush made an athletic dive to break up the first pass of the final drive by the starting offense. Four plays later, Bush flushed Williams from the pocket, and the quarterback retreated a long distance before heaving the ball out of bounds to kill the clock.”
Despite limited spending, this is no small thing for the Bears.
Bush wasn’t the only one flashing early in camp. Coby Bryant, their prized safety addition, was everywhere on the field, showcasing his mix of range and instincts. Unfortunately, his debut will have to wait after a knee injury sidelined him for the next eight weeks. Still, when your two most expensive free agent additions are flashing in practice this much, it is a great sign that you got it right. This goes without mentioning wide receiver Kalif Raymond, whom the Bears brought over from Detroit. He’s been making some big plays on the offensive side as well.
It seems rather fitting that one of the cheaper free agent classes that Poles has put together might end up being the best. If Devin Bush maintains this momentum into the season, he could end up being a pivotal signing. Remember, speed was a big problem for the Bears on that side of the ball. The former 1st round pick has plenty of it. Having someone with that kind of range makes life much easier for everyone else. The timing of his arrival seems fortuitous as veteran T.J. Edwards remains beset with injury problems.
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The Bears defense doesn’t need to be great.
Sure, it’d be ideal if it were, but fans aren’t naive. They can see this unit is in transition. Dennis Allen is trying to assemble the personnel he feels are necessary for success. That can’t often take time. In the absence of domination, Chicago would do fine with being average. If this defense can hover around the mid-teens in yards and points allowed, the Bears should win plenty of games this season. Their offense is more than good enough to carry the load, especially going into its second year under Ben Johnson.
Bush has played on some really good defenses in his career between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. He understands what is required to achieve such aims. With Bryant sidelined for the first few weeks of the season, it falls on him to help pick up the slack. It may not be a coincidence that his best day of camp came the day after the safety was injured. Bush clearly senses the need to elevate himself. The defense seems to be following his lead.
