Bears’ General Manager Ryan Poles has been taking a balanced, calculated approach to the off-season mixing aggression at the top of the market, with low-risk signings at positions of need.
I’ve seen a lot of fans and even some analysts seem to be critical of what the Bears have done so far before the draft as if the offseason is complete. Poles deserves a little patience this year as he and his staff try to build a roster that will be playing in late January. No one “wins” the offseason but if there was an award, I’d argue that the Bears have a case for it. Since the DJ Moore trade took place right before over 200 free agents signed new contracts, the news seemed to have a shorter lifespan than it would literally any other time. This move cannot be overstated. Adding a true alpha at wide receiver will help this offense significantly. Of Moore’s 888 receiving yards, 144 of them came from yards after the catch alone. The year before, he had 426 yards after the catch! This move will open up Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool to make more plays.
The Free Agency came around and Poles identified value at positions of need. Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards are near the top of their position group in performance and just happened to be free agents at the same time. This is a smart, while unpopular with fans, approach to building a team. The Bears aren’t overpaying someone just because they have the resources, need and there’s an average player available.
All in all, let’s see how the NFL Draft goes before we make conclusive statements like “Poles doesn’t care about Justin Fields” because he didn’t sign your favorite right tackle. It seems like Poles is trying to build a winner full of young ascending talent that can sustain success multiple years in a row. The way he’s approaching this, may take some time but it’s the best way to stay competitive.
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