Hitting on high draft picks is always great from a GM’s perspective. Those are the high-profile moments everybody remembers. However, anybody who understands the NFL knows that successful organizations are often built on one’s ability to find talent in unexpected places. Undrafted free agency is by far the biggest. Look at the organizations with a long track record of winning over the past two decades. New England, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Dallas, and Seattle. All of them have done great work finding good players on the undrafted market. Ryan Poles knew he’d have to do the same if he wanted to steer the Chicago Bears toward contention.
It appears those efforts are already bearing fruit. As the defense undergoes constant changes this year, several young players have earned starting time. One of them is undrafted rookie Jack Sanborn. He was elevated to starting middle linebacker after Roquan Smith was traded to Baltimore. It’s only been two games, but the Wisconsin product already looks like he belongs. His performance against the Detroit Lions last Sunday was eye-popping. Poles was asked about it on The Season podcast with Peter Schrager.
The GM couldn’t hold back his excitement.
“I think as an undrafted free agent, you see those guys kind of rise up and get opportunities and take advantage of them is one of the more exciting things we could do as a general manager. Because as you go through the draft and you’re evaluating, you’re really honing in on just a couple traits. I knew Sanborn’s a very instinctual player. So you bring him in your building and you watch him develop. Then he gets an opportunity.
That’s why over the last few years, I’ve learned not to freak out from injuries or trades because, sometimes, behind the doors, there’s some really cool things that happen and guys develop. Jack’s on his way, man. That last game, he was everywhere. Two sacks. Double-digit tackles. Should’ve had an interception. So I love seeing those things and those guys stand out. I’m pumped for him and the direction he’s going.”
Ryan Poles is already finding value in lesser places.
Sanborn is an obvious example. Teams passed him over because of his average athletic upside. His play lately illustrates how intelligence and instincts can overcome such problems. There is also what Poles accomplished in the draft. Chicago made eight picks between the 5th and 7th rounds last April. Among them were now starting left tackle Braxton Jones and starting punter Trenton Gill. Both have played well above expectations thus far and may have bright futures with this team. If all three, along with Sanborn, become steady contributors, it’s a massive win for the Bears.
Even the small victories matter. Ryan Poles may not have yet delivered a true superstar player to this organization, but he’s building a foundation. He is adding guys that can play the game at a high level. The challenge is stacking off-seasons like that together until the roster is loaded with them. Previous Bears GMs had varying degrees of success doing this. Ryan Pace and Phil Emery largely failed. Poles hopes to reverse the trend they started. Sanborn is the first glimpse of what might be coming.
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