The Chicago Bears were going to pick Caleb Williams. Everybody on the planet knew this by the end of March. By the time the draft arrived, it was a formality. Yet it was known that the team would still take several minutes to turn the card in once the clock started. There were even bets being placed it would take over seven minutes at least. Sure enough, it played out that way. Chicago went on the clock, and everybody had to wait. Finally, midway through the allotted time. Williams got the call. What nobody could’ve expected was GM Ryan Poles actually confirming the theory.
Behind-the-scenes footage emerged after the end of the 1st round, showing him calling the young quarterback. He admits the NFL told him to wait at least five minutes before turning in the pick. This is hilarious for two reasons. One is that it confirms the league does this stuff on purpose for television ratings, and the other is Poles likely would’ve turned the pick in immediately if given the choice. That should tell you how much conviction they had on Williams.
Ryan Poles isn’t one to second-guess himself.
Once a decision is made, he is prepared to go through with it. That wasn’t limited to Williams. He admitted the Bears were fixated on wide receiver Rome Odunze as well. It was to a point where Poles briefly considered moving up from #9 to get him despite limited resources. Thankfully, assistant GM Ian Cunningham talked him out of it. It ended up working out. Odunze slipped to the 9th spot. Chicago got their two guys in one fell swoop. One can understand why everybody in Halas Hall was excited.
Ryan Poles deserves applause for what he’s pieced together over the past calendar year. In that time, he added D.J. Moore, Darnell Wright, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift, Caleb Williams, and Rome Odunze to the offense. Based on talent alone, this is the best group the Bears have had in at least a decade. If Williams is as good as many believe, this organization is about to enter an era it has never seen before. In hindsight, waiting those extra five minutes won’t mean much.
Poles fixates and Cunningham talks Poles out of bad moves or at least not trading up to get Odunze. Maybe Cunningham would be a better GM than Poles who clearly fixates on certain players and not always the best ones.
Dr. Melhus —
The results of our TE, Ben Sinnott draft pick wager (#64 vs. #95) are in:
Sinnott was selected at #53 — by the Washington Commanders.
Obviously, your pick at #64 is much closer to reality than my choice at #95.
Congratulations — and where do you want me to send your 2024 Tesla Cybertruck “flux capacitor?”
It’s a beauty!
RE: LB, Payton Wilson — he was selected (#98) by Omar Kahn and the Steelers (who many will remember from the awful Chase Claypool and unbelievable Justin Fields’ trades). Kahn also drafted: OT, Troy Fautanu (#20); C, Zach Frazier (#51 ); WR, Roman Wilson (#84); through Friday night. I expect that all of these players were on the Bears’ Big Board — but Poles decided on Yale OT, Kiran Amegadjie at #75 (who played only four games, last year — versus the “regular citizens” that populate Ivy League varsity teams). Kiran is clearly another “development player” — the kind Poles… Read more »
Odunze at 9 was the shock of the 1st round. Legit top -3 talent in most drafts.
How about free agency?