Take the NFC North back and never give it back. That was the phrase general manager Ryan Poles used in his introductory remarks in January 2022 when he was hired to lead the Chicago Bears out of yet another failed rebuild led by Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy. Yet, in the three seasons since making those statements, Poles has done little to make those brash words a reality, with the Bears finishing in last place every single year of his tenure, and while they’ve rebounded to a 2-2 start with his second head coach, the first two games weren’t pretty.
With the lack of true star power on this team, particularly among players emerging from the draft, free agency, and trades made by Poles, the question arises: Did Poles really deserve a contract extension? There are arguments for both sides here, with the ‘yes’ side citing the extensions he secured for Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and D.J. Moore, as well as the home run trade with the Carolina Panthers, which enabled them to acquire Moore, Darnell Wright, Caleb Williams, and Luther Burden. The other side of the street says that he hasn’t drafted a Pro Bowl-level talent in his four drafts as GM of the Bears, and hasn’t acquired a game-changing talent in free agency or via trade. So, to answer that question, let’s look back at each one of Poles’ major moves to see if he really should be leading the Chicago Bears for the next five years.
Head Coaching Hires
Ben Johnson (Grade: Incomplete)
There isn’t much to say on this front, considering he’s only two games into his tenure. From a scheme and accountability standpoint, Johnson seems to be the right choice for Poles. Johnson has guided Chicago out of the 0-2 hole, but from a process standpoint, it was a good move for the Poles to convince the hottest head coaching candidate on the market to join their team to coach the quarterback he drafted.
Matt Eberflus (Grade: F-)
Oh man, how many ways this hire went sideways. Poles opted for the former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator as his first head coach during his tenure. It was a somewhat surprising move, hiring a first-time head coach for a first-time general manager, considering how the last regime, led by Ryan Pace, hired former Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos head coach John Fox to lead the way in the early stages of that rebuild. The final candidates were down to Eberflus and former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. Still, Poles went with Eberflus to help lead the development of the quarterback they inherited in the 2021 first-round pick, Justin Fields. The fact that Fields has been on three teams in the last three years should tell you more than enough how that experiment went.
The first year was expected to be challenging, with the Bears moving on from Khalil Mack and other veterans in an effort to get their cap sheet back in order. 2023 seemed to be a massive step in the right direction, with the Bears improving from 3-14 to 7-10 and the defense gelling under Ebeflus’ scheme. Then 2024 came, and after deciding to hang onto the No. 1 pick and shipping Fields out for a conditional sixth-round pick, they brought in Caleb Williams to be the final piece to what could have been a playoff team. Things started that way, with the Bears racing out to a 4-2 record, keeping pace with the rest of the NFC North and daydreams of all four teams from the division making the playoffs. Then, the Jayden Daniels Hail Mary and the debacle at the end of the Thanksgiving Day game doomed Eberflus’ time in Chicago.
In 46 games, Ebeflus went just 14-32 and 2-13 in divisional play. Meanwhile, Quinn was hired by Washington and led his team to the NFC Championship game with his rookie quarterback. It’s tough to say whether hiring Quinn would have led to the same results here in Chicago; hiring Eberflus was an unmitigated disaster for Poles. He’s lucky he got to stick around, blessed by inheriting Fields instead of drafting himself; otherwise, it could’ve been a fresh start for Chicago just three years after they hit the reset button.
NFL Draft
(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
I will be grading these drafts as a whole, rather than each pick. The criteria include the number of players still on the team today, the talent level of the selected players, and where they got picked. For example, if they had gotten a Brock Purdy-type player, then that would give a boost to the class’s grade. I will not be grading the 2025 class, since they are only two games into their NFL careers.
2022 Draft (Grade: C)
Poles came through his first draft as an NFL GM with 11 draft picks, and considering he had no first-round pick to work with (thanks to Pace trading it to the Giants to select Fields), he did a pretty good job. Most of the picks came on day three (8), but with the three picks he had on day, Poles hit on two of them in CB Kyler Gordon and S Jaquan Brisker. Gordon has become an elite slot corner and earned himself a three-year $40 million contract extension. The main problem for him has been health, as he’s missed at least two games every year in the league, including the 2025 season. Brisker has been an above-average starter, but he has dealt with health issues, missing the last 12 games in 2024 due to a concussion, and hasn’t received an extension.
The other three players still on the roster are LT Braxton Jones, S Elijah Hicks, and Edge Dominique Robinson. Jones is entering his fourth year as the starting left tackle, but after suffering a leg injury at the end of last season, he hasn’t looked the same so far in 2025. Hicks and Robinson have been solid depth and special teamers, but nothing special. What really drags this class down is the third-round selection of Velus Jones Jr. out of Tennessee. A 25-year-old rookie, Jones didn’t seem to have the tools to be a starting wide receiver, seemingly only picked to be a return specialist. That experiment failed, as Jones wasn’t even good at that and was cut in the middle of his third season with the Bears and has bounced around ever since. Now he’s listed as a running back for the New Orleans Saints. What really hurts is the number of good players selected after Jones at positions of need. The list includes:
OT Abraham Lucas
RB Rachaad White
OL Sean Rhyan
RB Brian Robinson Jr.
WR Kahlil Shakir
WR Romeo Doubs
While none of those players have reached the Pro Bowl, they have all been significantly more productive than Jones and have been better players in college than he was. This class may fall off even harder if and when Braxton Jones, Brisker, and Robinson leave, making Gordon and Hicks the last two picks remaining. As for now, they are still here and still find ways to be somewhat productive players.
2023 Draft (Grade: B)
In his next attempt at the NFL Draft, Poles came away with another 10 players, and actually had a first-round pick, which ultimately became the No. 1 pick. Poles traded that to the Carolina Panthers for No. 9, DJ Moore, and a treasure trove of other draft picks (more on the trade later). This has been a more productive draft class so far compared to 2022, as six of the 10 players are still on the team today. Poles used their first round pick on Tennessee RT Darnell Wright, and he’s been a steady presence on the line. And I would say he’s been an above-average right tackle.
Day two wasn’t as kind, considering that one of the four players not on the team anymore was a third-round pick in DT Zacch Pickens. Gervon Dexter Sr. was his following selection, and he’s been steadily improving over his first two seasons in the league and is currently the starting defensive tackle next to FA signing Gradey Jarrett, with 8.5 career sacks in 34 career games. Then comes Tyrique Stevenson, one of the most interesting players the Bears have drafted over the last few years. After a solid rookie year, his career has turned sideways after the Hail Mary, and through two weeks of this season, he’s giving up a perfect 158.3 passer rating. His future in Chicago could be in doubt after this season.
Outside of that, Noah Sewell has progressed from a special teamer to the third middle linebacker. Terrell Smith has shown some flashes as a corner, but is out for the rest of this season. Meanwhile, Roschon Johnson has accumulated 815 total yards and eight rushing touchdowns. Overall, there have been many more productive players from this class, but there still hasn’t been a star-level player selected.
2024 Draft (Grade: D+)
I know there might be some uproar over a grade like this, but the 2024 class hasn’t been great. Caleb Williams could change this grade wildly if he becomes the franchise quarterback for the Bears, but the other four selections haven’t been great. Rome Odunze had 734 yards on 55 catches and three touchdowns, and year two has looked even better than that, with 165 yards and three touchdowns already. OT Kiran Amegadjie hasn’t done much and was a healthy scratch against the Lions, and Austin Booker has been a preseason legend, but that production hasn’t been there in the regular season, with 1.5 sacks.
Then there is now the infamous pick of Tory Taylor out of the fourth round. It’s almost been unheard of to take a punter that early in the draft, unless they are a generational punter. Taylor hasn’t been that, hovering around an average to below-average punter in his 19 games of his NFL career. You then look at the players Poles could have selected instead, and you see that three picks later, there is RB Bucky Irving, who rushed for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie. I think the Bears could’ve used someone like that, even later in the draft with a guy like Tyrone Tracy Jr, who rushed for 839 yards (4.4 per carry) and five touchdowns. This class will be dependent on the top two picks working, because if they don’t, this could be the draft that gets Poles fired down the line.
Trades
(Photo: Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports)
In this section, I’ll only be going over the major trades. So, don’t expect me to go over a ton of the draft day trades or smaller moves like bringing OL Ryan Bates to Chicago. Here are the five biggest trades to judge Poles under during his tenure in Chicago.
1. The Khalil Mack trade (Grade: C+)
Details: Los Angeles Chargers receive Edge Khalil Mack, Bears receive 2022 2nd round pick (S Jaquan Brisker) and 2023 6th round pick (traded back to the Chargers for two 7ths, which turned into S Elijah Hicks and P Trenton Gil)
The first roster move Poles completed made a clear statement on where he wanted to take the team. He had the option to either build on what was already here when he arrived or tear it down to the studs. He opted for the latter, trading Khalil Mack, a marquee piece of Pace’s tenure, to the Chargers. I’ve already talked about the players they received in the deal, and they’ve been fine players, but what has Mack been up to in his three seasons out in LA? Well, “the” Mack returned to his world-wrecking powers, making the Pro Bowl all three seasons while racking up 31 sacks, including a career high 17 sacks in 2023. He signed a one-year deal in free agency to return to the Chargers at $18 million.
Brisker has turned into a fine player, but with the Bears’ struggles on pass rush since he left, it’s hard to see this turning into a good trade unless Brisker becomes a Pro Bowl-level player. Until then, this trade is barely an average trade considering what the Bears could have had next to Montez Sweat.
2. The Roquan Smith Trade: (Grade: D+)
Details: Baltimore Ravens receive LB Roquan Smith, Bears receive 2023 2nd round pick (DT Gervon Dexter Sr.), 2023 5th round pick (LB Noah Sewell), and LB A.J. Klein.
Smith became an elite player during his time with the Bears, racking up over 100 tackles in each of his first four seasons. He became a driving force in the Bears’ defense under several defensive coordinators. He was only behind Fred Warner if you were to rank out the top middle linebackers in the league. Yet, when Eberflus came to town, Smith seemed out of sorts in his new scheme. That, combined with the lack of a long-term extension getting worked out, led the Bears to trade Smith to the Ravens for two draft picks and the veteran linebacker A.J. Klein.
Dexter and Sewell have been solid enough players, with Dexter trending to be a good player, but this was an out-and-out mistake. The primary objective of drafting players is to acquire elite talent and then extend their contracts in the long term. Smith has maintained his high level of play in Baltimore, accumulating 398 tackles in two and a half seasons (9.7 tackles per game), and has helped the Ravens restore their defense to typical form. Dexter would have to turn into an All-Pro-level talent to make this trade even passable, but if that doesn’t happen, it would be a bone-headed move by Poles. Smith is a player who could fit almost any scheme, and the fact that he allowed Eberflus’s “master scheme” to ship him out is an awful move.
3. The Chase Claypool Trade (Grade: F)
Details: Pittsburgh Steelers receive Bears’ 2023 2nd round pick (CB Joey Porter), Bears receive WR Chase Claypool.
By far the worst trade Poles has made in his three years as general manager. The idea of trade itself was a good one, getting a wide receiver who was coming off two 800-yard seasons with the Steelers. Yet, things blew up spectacularly with Claypool only putting up 18 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown in 10 career games with the Bears. He was traded to the Dolphins midway through the season and hasn’t played a snap in the NFL since 2023. Meanwhile, Porter has become a crucial component of the Steelers’ defense and has already recorded 17 passes defended in two full seasons. The fact that he traded their own Bears’ second-round pick instead of the one they picked up from the Ravens is mind-boggling. With the Dolphins losing a first round due to tampering for Sean Payton and Tom Brady, that pick ended up being a first-rounder (No. 32 overall) for a player who never became a Pro Bowl-level player.
4. Trading the No. 1 Pick (Grade: A-)
Details: Carolina Panthers receive 2023 No. 1 overall pick (QB Bryce Young), Bears receive 2023 No. 9 overall pick (RT Darnell Wright) (traded to Philadelphia Eagles for No. 10 overall and 2024 4th round pick (traded to Los Angeles Chargers for WR Keenan Allen)), 2023 2nd round pick (CB Tyrique Stevenson), 2024 No. 1 overall pick (QB Caleb Williams), 2025 2nd round pick (WR Luther Burden), and WR D.J. Moore
The defining move of the Poles era, after a 3-14 season, the Bears ended up with the No. 1 pick in the draft. There was a debate about whether to keep the pick and move from Fields and draft either C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young. Poles opted to acquire a haul of all hauls from the Carolina Panthers, securing a weapon for Fields, along with D.J. Moore and four draft picks, plus an extra fourth-round pick when they swapped picks with the Philadelphia Eagles. So far, it’s been pretty good for the Bears, especially considering that Young is still going through his growing pains.
Chicago potentially got their franchise quarterback, a good wide receiver who had his best year of his career in 2023, a promising young wide receiver in Luther Burden, and a young corner who has the potential to turn it around. It’s been a straight fleece job for Poles, and if Williams can progress even further than he already has, then this will be the single most significant trade in the Chicago Bears franchise history.
5. The Montez Sweat Trade (Grade: B-)
Details: Washington Commanders receive 2024 2nd round pick (traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, which they used to select CB Cooper DeJean), Bears receive Edge Montez Sweat (extended for four years $98 million)
In the last trade on this list, they talk about the most recent blockbuster Poles pulled off, bringing in edge rusher Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders. Poles sent off another second-round pick in the deal for a guy having a career year and to help change a struggling defense. In the immediate aftermath of the trade, Sweat was given a four-year extension worth a total of $98 million. Sweat changed the completion of the defense and not only led the Commanders with 6.5 sacks on the season, but he also led Chicago with six in just nine games.
If you asked me then, I would have given the trade an A right off the bat. Yet, since then, the return on investment hasn’t been great. 2024 was a down year for him, with only 5.5 sacks, and 2025 hasn’t gotten off to a good start either, with no sacks in two games. Sweat is the highest-paid player on the Bears and needs to start playing like it. They’ll see if he can turn it around for the rest of the year with Dennis Allen at the helm, but time will tell, and that’s why it’s down to a B-.
Free Agency
To clarify, I’m only focusing on players who were signed for more than one season or were signed for one season but received an extension during their tenure. Meaning the entire 2022 free agency class won’t be included, as no one of significance was signed for a multi-year deal. Poles didn’t have the requisite cap space to make a move like that, after trying to clear the books to set up these two offseasons. I will also not be judging the 2025 class, as they have only played two games.
2023 Class: LB Tremaine Edmunds, LB T.J. Edwards, DT Andrew Billings, RG Nate Davis (Grade: C+)
This was the year Poles was really able to spend money after clearing the cap space in 2022. To bolster a leaky defense and help out coach Eberflus to get the unit back on track. Edmunds and Edwards were signed to fill in the Mike and Will linebacker spots, and in 2023, they proved they were worth it right off the bat. The two formed one of the best linebacking duos in the league, while the singing Andrew Billings transformed into a two-year extension.
The part of this class that brings down the evaluation of how the two marquee signings have gone since then, as well as the Nate Davis signing. The saga of Nate Davis is one for the ages. Initially unable to practice due to personal reasons, Davis was one of the worst guards in the league and was cut in the second season of a three-year contract he had signed. As for how the Edmunds and Edwards deals have aged, both have seen a steady decline in their production, with people wondering if Edmunds will remain on the team moving forward. They’ll know if they can rebound this year, but they haven’t been able to produce at the same level that Roquan Smith brought to the team.
2024 Class: RB D’Andre Swift, S Kevin Byard (Grade: C-)
To find a new starting running back and a safety opposite Brisker after long-time stalwart Eddie Jackson departed the team, Poles looked to the Philadelphia Eagles for their two new players. Before the start of free agency, they picked up Kevin Byard because the Eagles released him on March 1, and then in the opening minutes of free agency, they nabbed D’Andre Swift. Byard was solid in his first year with the Bears, racking up 130 tackles, seven passes defended, and an interception.
Swift, on the other hand, hasn’t been as good as hoped. After coming off a 1,000-yard season with the Eagles, he came into Chicago and rushed for 959 yards and six touchdowns. Seemingly fine, but when you look at it, he had his lowest yards per carry of his career (3.8) after the most carries of his career (253). This year hasn’t gone as well either, as he only has 116 yards in two games and is averaging the second-lowest yards per carry in his career (4.0). What stings even more is that Swift was one of the big three in that year’s running back free agent class, joining Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley. Jacobs had a fantastic season with their divisional rival, the Green Bay Packers, going for 1,329 yards, 15 touchdowns, and earning his third Pro Bowl appearance. Of course, Barkley went to the Eagles and had the 9th 2,000-yard rushing season in NFL history, helping lead Philly to their second Super Bowl in seven years.
Likely, neither Swift nor Byard is on the team next year, and there were two far superior options on the market. I give Poles a bit of a pass for not getting Barkley because, in all honesty, he was going to sign with the Eagles from the get-go. Not even attempting to snag Jacobs away from your divisional rival seems like a narrow-minded view of the market.
Final Verdict
Looking at it in totality, my final answer would be no. Poles still has a lot of work to do to prove that he can properly evaluate talent. He’s made some big moves, and the process seems to be good most of the time, but he’s picking the wrong players to fill that need. Even in that 2024 offseason, he could’ve spent the money to add another edge rusher next to Sweat with Johnathan Greenard or Danielle Hunter.
Unless this was a way to secure Johnson as head coach, he hasn’t built the requisite roster to earn an extension. I would have waited to see how the 2025 season and 2026 offseason unfolded before finalizing a deal. I’m not saying he shouldn’t be the Bears GM and be fired, but extending him without accomplishing anything is not how this is supposed to work. They could always buy him out if things go even further south than they already are, but giving him the extension before even having a winning record is wrong. They’ll see if the Bears’ faith is rewarded, but it’s gonna take a lot to prove it over the next 15 weeks.
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