Some Love for Ryan Poles - Bear Fans Only

[playthrough2001]

Pay close attention to the Top 30 visits. Poles typically drafts at least a few of these prospects. This starts the push to the draft.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1902419480371982531

 

[TL1961]

I’ve heard about running backs dealing with it. I believe Gurley had an arthritis issue off the top of my head.

I've never heard of having arthritis on top of the head. I bet that hurts.

 

[IBleedBearsBlood]

I hear ya, a RB can wait.

Grab Caleb Johnson in the latter rounds

That’s sexual harassment my guy…

 

[bamainatlanta]

He's not so bad as some say..

Ridiculous Texans free agent deals make Bears GM look all the wiser

With the Texans signing off on two huge free agent deals and other giant contracts paid out by Cincinnati, Bears GM Ryan Poles has shown tremendous foresight.

www.si.com

The trade for Diggs was just an awful decision(not as bad as the Claypool trade though)

 

[playthrough2001]

“Is there such a thing as “winning the offseason”? Are things truly different this time around at Halas Hall? And what’s next for the Bears during this already eventful offseason?

Tribune writers Dan Wiederer and Sean Hammond tackle those debates in this installment of “Real Talk.”

Dan Wiederer: Let’s cut to the chase. Because I’ve earned a reputation in these parts as a dyed-in-the-wool Bears skeptic. But I can say with unwavering confidence that the Bears have already had a productive and encouraging offseason. And that’s with the draft still ahead and a couple more waves of free agency.

Since last season ended, the Bears have hired a new head coach. And not just any coach: Ben Johnson, the NFL’s reigning Assistant Coach of the Year. The hottest candidate in this year’s hiring cycle. The mastermind whose Detroit Lions scored 68 offensive touchdowns in the 2024 regular season while averaging a league-best 33.2 points. Not too shabby, right?

The Bears also, as expected, have strengthened the interior of their offensive line — and not just with a roll of Gorilla Tape and a wad of chewed bubble gum. They signed the best center on the free-agent market, a smart, reliable conductor in Drew Dalman, who at 26 is entering the prime of his career. Bravo.

And when the guard market wasn’t shaping up exactly as Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles hoped, they took matters into their own hands with a pair of trades to land veteran starters Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. The former, by the way, is a two-time first-team All-Pro with four Super Bowl rings and extensive experience playing with Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. Nice.

You and I both know that so much of the Bears’ hoped-for rise in 2025 centers around the emergence of quarterback Caleb Williams. And with those four aforementioned additions, the Bears have made impressive progress toward at least making Williams more comfortable.”

Continued at the link below…

Is ‘winning the offseason’ a real thing? And what must the Chicago Bears do for the NFL draft to be a success?

Don’t look now, but the Chicago Bears are doing it again. They’re turning heads across the NFL with the way they’re regrouping and reloading for a potential bounce-back season in 2025. And they have received widespread praise for how aggressive and purposeful they have been. With a new coaching...

sports.yahoo.com

 

[playthrough2001]

NFL Free Agency Grades

“Chicago Bears: A

Key additions: OL Jonah Jackson (trade via Rams, read more), OL Joe Thuney (trade via Chiefs, read more), EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, DT Grady Jarrett (Read more), C Drew Dalman

Key re-signings: LB Amen Ogbongbemiga, CB Josh Blackwell, DT Chris Williams
Key departures: OL Coleman Shelton (Rams)

The biggest needs for the Chicago Bears were to solidify the offensive line in front of Caleb Williams and add another pass rusher opposite Montez Sweat. Check and check!

Chicago was proactive before the negotiating window opened, executing trades for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, who should both start. Then, they added the top center on the market in Drew Dalman.

That should drastically improve an offensive line that surrendered 68 sacks a year ago. Meanwhile, Odeyingbo is just 25 years old and has tallied 16 sacks over the last three seasons.”

2025 NFL free agency team-by-team grades: Vikings, Patriots, Commanders among top marks after first few days

Here's how each team has fared through three days of free agency

www.cbssports.com

 

[playthrough2001]

Biggs says yes to Campbell and Devine says the opposite. You have to love the weeks leading up to the NFL draft.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1902351262693143027

 

[TheEarlofRobin]

Who knew that the most important part of the offseason was keeping Ryan Bates, Doug Kramer & Rick Stromberg?

 

[bamainatlanta]

Who knew that the most important part of the offseason was keeping Ryan Bates, Doug Kramer & Rick Stromberg?

He didn’t even mention Bill Murray!

 

[Washington]

NFL Free Agency Grades

“Chicago Bears: A

Key additions: OL Jonah Jackson (trade via Rams, read more), OL Joe Thuney (trade via Chiefs, read more), EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, DT Grady Jarrett (Read more), C Drew Dalman

Key re-signings: LB Amen Ogbongbemiga, CB Josh Blackwell, DT Chris Williams
Key departures: OL Coleman Shelton (Rams)

The biggest needs for the Chicago Bears were to solidify the offensive line in front of Caleb Williams and add another pass rusher opposite Montez Sweat. Check and check!

Chicago was proactive before the negotiating window opened, executing trades for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, who should both start. Then, they added the top center on the market in Drew Dalman.

That should drastically improve an offensive line that surrendered 68 sacks a year ago. Meanwhile, Odeyingbo is just 25 years old and has tallied 16 sacks over the last three seasons.”

Is the expectation at this time that Amen is the replacement for Sanborn?

 

[playthrough2001]

Is the expectation at this time that Amen is the replacement for Sanborn?

They’ll probably have him and Sewell compete for the job. Possibly, a later round draft pick will be added to the mix too.

 

[Nelly]

“Is there such a thing as “winning the offseason”? Are things truly different this time around at Halas Hall? And what’s next for the Bears during this already eventful offseason?

Tribune writers Dan Wiederer and Sean Hammond tackle those debates in this installment of “Real Talk.”

Dan Wiederer: Let’s cut to the chase. Because I’ve earned a reputation in these parts as a dyed-in-the-wool Bears skeptic. But I can say with unwavering confidence that the Bears have already had a productive and encouraging offseason. And that’s with the draft still ahead and a couple more waves of free agency.

Since last season ended, the Bears have hired a new head coach. And not just any coach: Ben Johnson, the NFL’s reigning Assistant Coach of the Year. The hottest candidate in this year’s hiring cycle. The mastermind whose Detroit Lions scored 68 offensive touchdowns in the 2024 regular season while averaging a league-best 33.2 points. Not too shabby, right?

The Bears also, as expected, have strengthened the interior of their offensive line — and not just with a roll of Gorilla Tape and a wad of chewed bubble gum. They signed the best center on the free-agent market, a smart, reliable conductor in Drew Dalman, who at 26 is entering the prime of his career. Bravo.

And when the guard market wasn’t shaping up exactly as Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles hoped, they took matters into their own hands with a pair of trades to land veteran starters Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. The former, by the way, is a two-time first-team All-Pro with four Super Bowl rings and extensive experience playing with Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. Nice.

You and I both know that so much of the Bears’ hoped-for rise in 2025 centers around the emergence of quarterback Caleb Williams. And with those four aforementioned additions, the Bears have made impressive progress toward at least making Williams more comfortable.”

Continued at the link below…

Is ‘winning the offseason’ a real thing? And what must the Chicago Bears do for the NFL draft to be a success?

Don’t look now, but the Chicago Bears are doing it again. They’re turning heads across the NFL with the way they’re regrouping and reloading for a potential bounce-back season in 2025. And they have received widespread praise for how aggressive and purposeful they have been. With a new coaching...

sports.yahoo.com

It's possible that you look back at this offseason some years from now and see it as the turning point. I think if that happens, it'll have plenty to do with reinforcing the trenches for sure but will have more to do with hiring Ben Johnson to pair with Caleb Williams and have those guys grow together.

How incredible would it be to see them become the NFC's version of Reid/Mahomes? Long way to go but dare to dream baby!

 

[Washington]

They’ll probably have him and Sewell compete for the job. Possibly, a later round draft pick will be added to the mix too.

Sewell has been a real disappointment. I remember when he was drafted and so many people had him overtaking Sanborn immediately. It never happened. Maybe Carl Jones will get a look there. I think Amen probably wins the job unless they do something surprising in the draft. The team really lacks depth at LB right now.

 

[RacerX]

We often think of George as just the guy representing the McCaskey family/the face of ownership, and don’t give much credence to his football opinions but he nailed this one when he said (paraphrased), “Ryan is young and I want to give him time to grow into the job and learn from his mistakes”.

That was it. That is what we were NOT willing to give him when we were all calling for his head a few months ago. We held this young guy to a standard of doing to soup to nuts gut job rebuild while getting everything right the first time around… or ship him out! A lofty standard that few first time GM’s would ever be able to live up to. That is also the mark of a losing franchise (which we have been for a while now) when you don’t invest in people nor give them room to learn and grow into the job.

That is what Poles has done — he has gained experience, learned valuable lessons and has grown into the job. Credit goes to George for allowing that to happen. Credit goes to Poles for taking advantage of the long leash/second chance to get it right.

The cope/homerism in this thread is mind-blowing.

Dipshit poles should have been fired rather than extended.

The cope is giving him credit for learning? WTF? How about we hire a qualified GM that doesn't need to hit us with 15-36 as "on the job training".?

He is far from the worst GM in the league, but his drafts overall, his FA signings, ignoring the OL when it was obvious to every Bears fan it needed resources, and roster construction suck ballz. and under his watch we got Waldron and a not fired-soon-enough Everlose.

F#@% Poles. he is less than mid.

 

[doctorbear]

The cope/homerism in this thread is mind-blowing.

Dipshit poles should have been fired rather than extended.

The cope is giving him credit for learning? WTF? How about we hire a qualified GM that doesn't need to hit us with 15-36 as "on the job training".?

He is far from the worst GM in the league, but his drafts overall, his FA signings, ignoring the OL when it was obvious to every Bears fan it needed resources, and roster construction suck ballz. and under his watch we got Waldron and a not fired-soon-enough Everlose.

F#@% Poles. he is less than mid.

The homerism is out of control. Someone said earlier in the thread they won't go through all the GM's draft picks and signings and in the same post said he doesn't read much into the teams record either. How the **** else do we judge a GM?

Poles first three years fucking sucked. He had plenty of cap and draft picks to build a winner before this season. The team was built fucking backwards, and there was no positives to draw from last season. None.

People can say oh who cares what he did before, he's building the O-line now. Well the bears could've already been there by now. We shouldn't have been in a position to need Dahlman for example. Also, this is such a departure from what Poles has done for 3 off seasons, I can only assume that Ben Johnson is a major driving force into the change of philosophy and approach now. I'm not letting Poles off the hook.

For better or worse, the organization has decided to stick with Poles and give him a chance to rectify his horrible drafting and signing the last few years. I have faith in Ben Johnson (not Poles) to drive this team to make good decisions in team building going forward. We'll see how it goes, but it doesn't magically erase a disaster of three off seasons of team building. This team should NOT be this behind.

 

[pseudonym]

To be fair, we weren't going to pass on Caleb. And I love the Odunze pick. But there were a ton of shitty picks in the first year, and in other rounds, as well as bad trades. Velus and Claypool ALONE stink. Wright was a good pick. This is his third year, and third strike IMO. But I'm going to guess that Ben will save his ass, and he will be here longer. Maybe he had learned on the job, maybe it's all Ben. We'll see.

 

[Sculpt]

Do you agree with Jahns? What can Poles do next to move the needle for you if you are or aren’t happy to this point?

Are there any free agents you’d still like to sign?

Do you want him to stand pat and possibly get a comp pick if Jenkins signs a deal over 5 million?

Would you wait until FAs don’t count against the comp pick formula to add anything else?

I’d like to see him address the slot receiver position with Elijah Moore. Does Tyler Lockett move the needle for anyone?

In the draft, I’m fortifying the lines through pick 72 and drafting a RB in round 5. I can see them taking a detour if a safety, RB, or TE is ranked higher on their board at any of the first four picks.

I think the Bears need to acquire a very good passrusher still.

Odeyingbo had 3 sacks last year, and Sweat only had 5.

Odeyingbo and Jarrett (though overpaid) are good for the DL rotation...

Unless Poles thinks he can get the guy in the draft, which seems unlikely, I think Poles needs to sign a FA like Za'Darius Smith (9sacks), if not Smith then Von Miller.

 

[HeHateMe]

I think the Bears need to acquire a very good passrusher still.

Odeyingbo had 3 sacks last year, and Sweat only had 5.

Odeyingbo and Jarrett (though overpaid) are good for the DL rotation...

Unless Poles thinks he can get the guy in the draft, which seems unlikely, I think Poles needs to sign a FA like Za'Darius Smith (9sacks), if not Smith then Von Miller.

Why would VM want to sign with the bears?

 

[playthrough2001]

I think the Bears need to acquire a very good passrusher still.

Odeyingbo had 3 sacks last year, and Sweat only had 5.

Odeyingbo and Jarrett (though overpaid) are good for the DL rotation...

Unless Poles thinks he can get the guy in the draft, which seems unlikely, I think Poles needs to sign a FA like Za'Darius Smith (9sacks), if not Smith then Von Miller.

I would have zero interest in Von Miller. He’s pretty much done.

Smith looks like he still has some pop. I’m surprised Detroit moved on. That would need to be explored before actually signing him.

 

[bamainatlanta]

I think the Bears need to acquire a very good passrusher still.

Odeyingbo had 3 sacks last year, and Sweat only had 5.

Odeyingbo and Jarrett (though overpaid) are good for the DL rotation...

Unless Poles thinks he can get the guy in the draft, which seems unlikely, I think Poles needs to sign a FA like Za'Darius Smith (9sacks), if not Smith then Von Miller.

Why would this be unlikely in one of the deepest DE drafts in recent memory?