One thing to always remember about Ryan Poles is he’s not a GM who is stuck in traditional ways of thinking. He isn’t afraid to be aggressive (up to a point) to plug roster holes. That includes the trade market. The Chicago Bears already sent a 6th round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for veteran Jonah Jackson, a former Pro Bowler who spent three seasons playing under Ben Johnson in Detroit. Most felt that move was a smart way to set up the team’s plans for free agency. As it turns out, Poles might not be done.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic dropped a bombshell that the Kansas City Chiefs are suddenly looking to trade two-time All-Pro guard Joe Thuney. Unsurprisingly, the Bears are one of the teams involved in talks. Thuney has been one of the best guards in the NFL for the past decade. He won two Super Bowls in New England and then two more in Kansas City. He’s renowned for his excellent pass protection and leadership abilities. There is no question he would be an instant upgrade over anything the Bears have.
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Mere minutes after Russini revealed the interest, Ian Rapoport confirmed that not only was a trade discussed, but it’s going to happen. Just like that, in the space of 48 hours, the Bears have secured two starting guards for their offensive line. Thuney is 32 years old, so his longevity will be a talking point. He has one year left on his current deal at $16 million. It wouldn’t be surprising if Poles looks to secure him with a short-term extension of some kind. The deal will be for a future 4th round pick.
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Ryan Poles making these trades was easy to predict in hindsight.
All one had to do was take a look at the guard market in free agency. Trey Smith was tagged by the Chiefs, which suddenly left the Bears with options like Aaron Banks (average), Will Fries (injured), and Kevin Zeitler (35 years old). Word is Banks could command somewhere in the vicinity of $18 million per year. It is hardly shocking that Poles wasn’t keen on forking over that kind of money for a player who clearly doesn’t deserve it. That meant he had to get creative.
Acquiring two former Pro Bowlers for what amounts to a 6th round pick and future 4th round pick feels like smart business. Ryan Poles gets two proven commodities on the interior offensive line who should be able to stabilize the situation for the next year or two. Ryan Poles knew he had the cap space to absorb their hefty contracts. Now, he’s free to focus on any position he wants in free agency and the trade. The Bears GM wanted flexibility. He found it. Caleb Williams should be happy.
