With 17 days left before the Bears make their first selection in the 2024 draft, Ryan Poles finds himself in an enviable position. He has the luxury of picking one of several blue-chip prospects when the ninth pick is on the clock.
Poles has made it clear they have narrowed their choice to one of three positions; a wide receiver to complement DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, an Edge rusher to provide a one-two punch on the defensive line, or an offensive lineman to bolster the front five. Poles can take the best available WR, Edge, or OT/C at 1.09, or depending on how the draft unfolds, he can trade down a few spots and still grab one of those top prospects.
The Bears have met, or will meet the following players. This list includes Team 30 meetings as well as visits at Pro Days and local prospects who are not counted against the team’s allotment of 30 visits.
Wide Receivers
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The top three receivers are Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze, and Malik Nabers. All will have been to Halas Hall for a visit by the end of this week.
Other WRs the Bears have talked to include Xavier Worthy who stunned everyone by running a 4.21 40 at the Combine, Ladd McConkey, Jha’Quan Jackson, Brendan Rice, Cam Johnson, and Josh Cephus.
Edge
The Bears will meet three of the top 4 Edge prospects in Lake Forest: Dallas Turner, Laiatu Latu, and Chop Robinson. They have also met with Jared Verse, Adisa Isaac, Chris Braswell, Jaylen Harrell, Maema Njongmeta, Javaontae Jean-Baptiste, Jeblonski Green Jr., and Justin Blazek.
Offensive Line
The top names of Joe Alt, Olu Fashanu, and Troy Fautanu are not on the Bears’ list of team 30 meetings, but Poles and company did meet with them at the Combine or their Pro Day. Here is the list of linemen on the “30” list: OT Tyler Guyton, IOL Graham Barton, OT Kiran Amegadjie, and C Zach Frazier.
NEWS FLASH !!!!
Ryan Pace has left the building — more than two years ago.
Ryan Poles has done some good things. But he’s never going to be in a more favorable position than he is now (with back-to-back #1 overall picks in NFL drafts).
His handling of QB (team captain) Justin Fields reveals more than most Erik Lambert readers realize.
But all will be forgiven if QB, Caleb Williams comes in and saves Poles’ big, dumb ass.
Let the chips fall where they may.
And please –no more lame excuses.
@TGena – With a bottom of the league QB. Which was a Ryan Pace pick, not a Ryan Poles pick
@BearDownTX —
Okay — they’re starters.
On a team that went 7-10 last year.
Hardly an All-Pro roster.
@TGena – You’re an idiot. I hate calling people names, but your act and rant just gets dumber and dumber each time you post. Back-up level players? Two of his draft picks last year were on the all-rookie team in Wright and Stevenson. Dexter will be a starter this year and progressed nicely. Smith was a great selection in the 5th round that sits behind Stevenson and one of the best corners in the league in JJ. Brisker and Gordon are bonified starters. Braxton Jones, another 5th round starter is a solid OT, maybe not top 10, but a starter… Read more »
Unfortunately, Bears GM, Ryan Poles is an inept judge of NFL talent, proficiency and value.
He always prefers “his guys” (starting with Velus Jones Jr.) over the consensus of opinion.
Virtually all of Poles’ draft picks are back-up level players.
And in 2024. Poles will have been drafting from among the Top Ten picks in back-to-back NFL drafts.
It’s not going to get better — any time soon.