Sometimes, it's not the moves you make but the moves others make that can benefit you the most. The Chicago Bears haven't been overly aggressive in free agency to this point. They've made a couple of mid-tier deals with running back D'Andre Swift and tight end Gerald Everett. Veteran safety Kevin Byard also arrived on a two-year deal. Their other additions have focused mainly on depth and special teams help. No big splashes. GM Ryan Poles seems content to let other teams do the heavy spending. While that has made Bears fans uncomfortable, it has still managed to benefit the organization.
Just not in the way people expect.
One thing to remember about free agency is any big moves teams make often have a drastic impact on the draft plans of the teams making them. A perfect example is unfolding over in Tennessee. The Titans have been one of the most aggressive teams in free agency the past two days. They just put a cap on their work by stealing star wide receiver Calvin Ridley away from rival Jacksonville with a massive four-year deal worth $92 million.
This move benefits the Bears because it likely takes Tennessee, who pick two spots ahead of them at #7, out of the wide receiver picture in the 1st round. That improves the odds of one of the top three receivers falling to #9 where Chicago could pair them with their young quarterback of choice at #1 overall.
Ryan Poles and the Bears should be thrilled by this development.
Almost every draft expert agrees this 2024 wide receiver class is one of the best to come out of college in years. Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State, Malik Nabers of LSU, and Rome Odunze of Washington all have game-breaking ability. In normal circumstances, each would likely be the first receiver off the board in any other draft. That is how stacked this group is. Chicago will get an instant playmaker if any of them get to #9. The obvious unknown is whether that happens. Tennessee taking itself out of the picture is a big first step.
Here is the lineup as things stand.
- #1 - Chicago
- #2 - Washington
- #3 - New England
- #4 - Arizona
- #5 - Los Angeles
- #6 - New York
- #7 - Tennessee
- #8 - Atlanta
- #9 - Chicago
It is a safe assumption the first two picks will be quarterbacks. New England will also probably be one as well. Arizona at #4 is likely where the first wide receiver goes. Kyler Murray needs a new weapon. Los Angeles at #5 is a possibility after they had to cut Mike Williams, but that doesn't feel like a Jim Harbaugh move. They likely go lineman or trade down. New York is the next danger spot at #6. If they can't land a quarterback, they must find a viable weapon for Daniel Jones. Tennessee is out, as mentioned above. So are the Atlanta Falcons at #8 after signing Darnell Mooney to pair with Drake London.
That means unless somebody trades up to jump the Bears next month, one of the top receivers should slip to them. Ryan Poles should be thrilled.
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