Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles stated that his decision regarding the #1 overall pick likely won’t be made nearly as fast as last year when he traded it to Carolina on March 10th. There is a strong likelihood that this one will go all the way to April. That is for two reasons. The first is the strong possibility he decides to make a change at quarterback, moving off Justin Fields for one of the top names in the 2024 class. Or he feels the value of that pick will only increase as other teams become familiar with those quarterbacks, increasing its trade value.
Speaking of that, it appears the Bears won’t have to work too hard in that regard. Jerod Mayo recently took over as head coach of the New England Patriots, replacing icon Bill Belichick. He sat down for an interview with CBS News Boston to talk about his new position. Inevitably, the conversation came around to the Patriots holding the #3 overall pick and what they might do with it. Mayo didn’t even try being vague on the topic. He outright hinted the Patriots have every intention of taking a quarterback.
The Chicago Bears have even more trade leverage now.
Mayo’s declaration makes it clear that any team picking below #3 will have to get in front of the Patriots if they want one of the top quarterbacks available. It is also true of Washington at #2. Everybody knows they are eyeing a quarterback, too. There is no chance they are sticking with Sam Howell. Not with a new GM and head coach. This means if Poles indeed floats the information that #1 is available, the bidding war could get insane. Teams will want to get in front of those two, while those two may have to pay a heavy price to jump into the #1 spot to ensure they get their preferred guy.
It reinforces the belief many experts have held since the season ended. The Chicago Bears are in a premium spot. They either get to select one of the top quarterbacks to come out this year in a draft many feel is loaded, or they will receive a monumental package of assets to sell their spot. Either way, Poles puts his team on a further trajectory towards contention. There should be clues of what they plan to do around the start of the off-season in mid-March.
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Remember, the Bears received D.J. Moore, the 9th pick, a 2nd in 2023, a 1st in 2024, and a 2nd in 2025 for #1 last year. They’d likely receive substantially more this time around.
TGena as the Bears next GM?
TGena ‘s PFF grades don’t prove drafting assessments, but how crucial the coaching is for the development.
(How does Puka Nacoa become such a star when the Bears can’t even get open receivers to catch a ball?) I don’t expect Rookie of the Year, just usefulness.
Enjoying the TGena discussion about drafts and free agents. But in discussing both Pace and Poles drafts and trades, we have to keep in mind the coaching (especially with draft picks, but also with veterans from other programs). There is not consensus that the Luke Getsy period wasn’t good. How bad is debatable. But non-development of draft picks is a complete waste of draft picks, and depending on veterans developed elsewhere is expensive. Velus Jones, Tyler Scott are the most obvious offense waste of drafts – because we don’t know whether they are terrible, or simply uncoached. On the defensive… Read more »
I thought the Bears were trading Fields and wasting a first round pick on Caleb Williams. They’re in a much better position without an offensive coordinator, than they were last year when they had Like Getsy!
Williams can now coach himself and the Bears offense.
@TGena you are at -243 votes, cumulatively, today on this article alone. 🤡