It felt like it was yesterday when fans were fighting over who the Chicago Bears should sign during free agency. Now, the team is less than a week away from the 2025 NFL Draft. Bears General manager Ryan Poles has checked nearly every box this offseason: reinforce the offensive line, spend with discipline, and retain in-house talent. But there’s still one glaring task left, and it continues to cast a shadow over his tenure.
The Last Box Bears GM Ryan Poles Must Check This Offseason
Since becoming GM, Ryan Poles has brought in a ton of talent via the draft, with notable names like Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright, Gervon Dexter Sr., Tyrique Stevenson, Caleb Williams, and Rome Odunze. However, that’s a problem in itself.
The part that Poles has left a lot to be desired is his ability to draft in the later rounds. All the names mentioned besides Jones were selected in the first two rounds of the draft. Rounds that are generally easier to find talent. Bluntly speaking, Poles has to be better at drafting from round three onward. Most draft picks since 2022 have been cut or barely receive playing time, and that has to change. Players like Velus Jones Jr., Dominique Robinson, Zacch Pickens, and Tyler Scott have struggled to see the field or missed on their opportunity to make a meaningful contribution, highlighting the disconnect between potential and performance.
A New Era
There are two reasons to believe things might be different this year: a new coaching staff and a potential shift in draft philosophy. Early in his tenure, Poles leaned on the approach he learned in Kansas City, favoring raw, high-upside players from smaller schools. But that strategy, coupled with an underwhelming coaching staff, led to disappointing results in Chicago.
This time around, Poles must prioritize more than just athletic traits and metrics like a player’s Relative Athletic Score. With a rookie head coach and a young quarterback, the Bears can’t afford to miss out on adding contributing players. They need scheme-ready players, and not just in the first two rounds. That doesn’t mean shying away from upside; it means finding the right balance based on what the coaching staff can realistically develop.
If Poles can adjust his approach, this draft could be the first where the Bears add meaningful contributors throughout the entire weekend.
Day 3 Targets for the Bears
Luckily for Ryan Poles, this isn’t his first rodeo. With experience under his belt, it’s time for him to overcome his biggest obstacle: hitting on late-round talent. The Bears need to shore up depth in the trenches, bolster the safety room, add the linebacker of the future, and possibly invest in a developmental tight end.
That said, here are some Day 3 targets the Bears should keep an eye on:
- S Jonas Sanker, Virginia
- LB Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
- OT Jalen Travis, Iowa State
- DE Sai’vion Jones, LSU
- NT Jordan Phillips, Maryland
- OG Luke Kandra, Cincinnati
- TE Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
- DT Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
Read More: Mix Messages Surround Chicago Bears’ Draft Plans
Main Image: Jamie Sabau – USA Today Sports
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