Chicago Bears Outlook After Trade Deadline
Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Photo by Jacob Funk/Chicago Bears.
General manager, Ryan Poles, spoke very freely at Tuesday’s press conference about trading talented middle linebacker Roquan Smith. He hinted (not subtly) that he did not see a deal getting done after this season to retain Smith. Poles knew that Smith would be playing for a new team next year, which made the decision easy to try and get something in return for him. That he did.
Now, post-trade deadline, Poles has turned outside linebacker Robert Quinn and Smith into Chase Claypool, A.J. Klein, and multiple picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. These picks include: second, fourth, and fifth-round picks (not including the Khalil Mack trade before the season started either). The Bears will arguably have the most resources at their disposal this offseason in cap space and draft picks combined, and it will be very interesting to see how those are utilized. But there are a few predictions that can be made from these deadline moves.
Right now, it’s evident that the Bears as an organization are moving forward with Justin Fields as their franchise quarterback. Poles doesn’t move their original second-round pick for Claypool without having decided that Fields is their man going into next year and beyond. According to Poles, the arrow is pointed up for Fields. The idea right now is to try and slowly put together pieces toward a more competitive offense, while also relieving some pressure from Fields to be perfect.
Did Poles spend too much for Claypool? Maybe. But at least now he knows he has Mooney and Claypool ready to go come 2023 without any other additions. Not great, but not as bad as 2022. Poles has already said that the receiver free agent and draft class forced his hand in acquiring a playmaker at this trade deadline.
Now that Quinn and Smith are gone, that means Poles has to replace those guys in some capacity this upcoming off-season. Easier said than done for sure. But with the addition of more draft picks, it makes things easier to at least pick up a day one or early day two talent on the defensive line. That is a must seeing as how bad the Bears' pass rush has been this year.
While trading away a draft pick might have surprised some who follow the Bears, it doesn’t seem like that will be the norm for this regime. Poles has said countless times that he wants to build this team through the draft and he clearly is betting on himself and his team to scout, draft, and develop. It’s hard to argue that, and honestly, it’s quite refreshing to see after the countless GMs that have come through Halas Hall to overpay in free agency and see that plan fail.
So far Poles’ first draft class has shown to have some high-potential players (Brisker, Gordon, Jones), and there is no reason to doubt him right now. This will be a very telling off-season for Poles' career with the Bears, and having his quarterback is a huge benefit. The Bears project to have a top-ten pick in the draft, and Poles cannot miss. This team is in desperate need of a pass-rusher and moves have been made so far this year to put them in the position to draft one in the first round.
