Ryan Poles hasn’t been bad with drafting for the Chicago Bears since taking over as GM. It is evident he’s acquired some good talent since 2022. Among the highlights are Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright, and Gervon Dexter. Hopes remain high for Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze going into their second years. However, the main issue for the Chicago Bears is they haven’t secured any true stars yet. If Poles wants to get this team past the elite of the NFC, he has to start scoring some legitimate blue-chip players.
One thing about those types is they tend to stand out immediately. If this is the case, Poles may have delivered his magnum opus with the 2025 draft class. Barely a week into training camp this year, and one thing is evident. Colston Loveland and Luther Burden are legit. The Bears’ 10th and 39th overall picks have given the defense problems from the moment they stepped on the field. They’re not only making frequent catches, but doing so while getting legitimately open. It isn’t a fluke.
Ryan Poles may have struck gold in back-to-back picks.
Aside from fortifying his protection, finding offensive firepower for Williams was always the goal. Loveland was a primary target for months. Head coach Ben Johnson saw visions of Pro Bowler Sam LaPorta when watching the Michigan tight end. It was such a natural fit. Burden was a different story. Most experts figured the Missouri receiver was too talented to fall out of the 1st round. It was a big surprise when he was still on the board when the Bears picked again. That made the decision easy. His size, speed, and ability to make plays after the catch were all things Johnson would love to use. Many felt he was never utilized to his full potential in college. Under this coaching staff, he could blossom.
Early returns suggest those assessments were correct.
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