The Chicago Bears will enter the 2024 NFL draft with lots of optimism. They hold the #1 overall pick in the class, meaning they have a chance to select who they feel is the best quarterback. Then, just for good measure, they also hold the #9 pick. They have an opportunity to land two blue-chip talents in one fell swoop. However, there is one lingering concern among fans. While the Bears do have two high picks, they don’t have a lot of picks total. Following multiple trades, they are now down to four, which would be the lowest in franchise history if it stays that way. Having so few picks gives the Bears little margin for error. GM Ryan Poles knows this better than anybody. His first two drafts totaled 21 picks.
It is hard to reconcile with the idea he would be okay with only four this year. That said, it is important to remember where he came from. Believe it or not, Poles is no stranger to entering and leaving a draft with fewer than the typical allotted amount of seven picks. In fact, there were six instances between 2014 and 2021 where Kansas City finished with only six. Here are a few examples of what came out of those drafts.
2014: Six picks
- Dee Ford
- Phillip Gaines
- De’Anthony Thomas
- Aaron Murray
- Zach Fulton
- Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
2017: Six picks
- Patrick Mahomes
- Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Kareem Hunt
- Jehu Chesson
- Ukeme Eligwe
- Leon McQuay
2021: Six picks
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- Nick Bolton
- Creed Humphrey
- Joshua Kaindoh
- Noah Grey
- Cornell Powell
- Trey Smith
Each class produced at least one Pro Bowl player, including the best player in the NFL today. Poles knows that if your evaluations are on point, there is no reason to fear having limited picks.
Ryan Poles understands the nature of the draft.
The harsh reality is most of the picks you make won’t end up being good players. Most will be backups or find their way out of the league. Drafts must be looked at similar to a batting average in baseball. If you’re hovering around .300, you are doing a great job. In other words, if the Bears can come out of each draft with two or three good players, it will produce positive results on the field. Remember, Chicago has two picks in the top 10. While no pick is a guaranteed success, those selections often yield at least a good player. If both pan out as expected, nobody will care how small the overall class is.
That responsibility rests on the shoulders of Ryan Poles. Through two drafts, it appears he has a good eye for talent. Several of his selections are already thriving. This draft has a chance to become is magnum opus. Not only can he land that elusive franchise quarterback Chicago is starved for, but he can add an additional blue-chip playmaker at another premium position as well. If he sticks the landing, the Bears will finally remind everybody what happens when they’re good.
