If we've learned anything about Ryan Poles during his time as the Chicago Bears general manager, it's that he doesn't do things by the book. The NFL tends to operate by conventional wisdom most of the time. There are certain things you do or don't do depending on your team's status, be it rebuilding or contending. For example, everybody knows you don't give up high draft capital at the trade deadline for a veteran player when the team is in the middle of a rebuild. The problem is nobody bothered to tell Poles that.
Two years in a row, the Bears GM bucked the trend, making an aggressive move by trading a 2nd round pick to another team for an established player. His reasoning was simple. The roster needed a boost in a specific area, and he saw an opportunity to give it one. Now, it appears those same conditions are coming together again.
- 2022 - Bad wide receivers - Traded for Chase Claypool
- 2023 - Bad pass rush - Traded for Montez Sweat
- 2024 - Bad offensive line - ?
Chicago's blocking has looked dicey throughout training camp. Right guard Nate Davis and right tackle Darnell Wright have dealt with injuries, and they don't have a definitive option at center. With all of these conditions and the fact Poles has two 2nd round picks in 2025, it feels as if another bold trade is a matter of when, not if.
Ryan Poles will await the right opportunity.
One parallel between his moves with Claypool and Sweat is that both were slated to become free agents in the coming off-season. So it's always good to monitor who could become available next year and whether their current team is willing or able to pay them. That is how we come to the Bears' potential targets: Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith.
The Kansas City Chiefs have had one of the best offensive lines over the past few years, thanks to an outstanding draft in 2021 that landed them Humphrey (a two-time Pro Bowl center) and Smith, who is probably the most underrated right guard in football. One would think the Chiefs would like to keep both of them. Unfortunately, that is problematic.
Kansas City is projected to have only $13 million in cap space next year. They could do some contract maneuvering to free up more, but the issue doesn't end there. Star linebacker Nick Bolton and dependable safety Justin Reid also need new deals. That may leave the Chiefs with only one option.
Trade one of Humphrey or Smith and keep the other.
Selling off talented players they can't afford is not a new practice for them. In 2018, they traded star corner Marcus Peters to the Rams for a 4th and future 2nd. A year later, they traded Pro Bowl pass rusher Dee Ford to San Francisco for a future 2nd. In 2022, they traded Tyreek Hill to Miami. You get the point. Don't forget Ryan Poles came from Kansas City. He has many connections there. Don't be shocked if things unfold that way.
