Ex-Bears Scout Reveals Why Ryan Poles Failed To Draft Edge Rush Help

Chicago Bears fans are mostly happy about the 2023 draft class. They feel GM Ryan Poles did a good job addressing team needs. He got a right tackle to protect Justin Fields in the 1st round. He fortified defensive tackle with Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. More offensive firepower arrived with Roschon Johnson and Tyler Scott in the 4th round. Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith also bolstered the secondary at cornerback. It's a class loaded with size and athleticism. However, it also felt incomplete for one specific reason.

The Bears failed to take any edge rush help. It was a considerable shock since this team had 20 total sacks last season. Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson failed to do significant damage despite constant starter reps. It seemed like the team needed another body in that mix. However, ten picks came and went without such an addition. Some people were upset. Former Bears scout Greg Gabriel was quick to defend Poles. He explained on the Barroom Network that the GM had a perfectly logical reason for not taking an edge rusher.

It had everything to do with what happened before the Bears' first and second picks.

Before the Ryan Poles' first pick at 10th overall

• Will Anderson drafted at #3
• Tyree Wilson drafted at #7

Before the Bears' pick at 53rd overall

• Lukas Van Ness drafted at #13
• Will McDonald drafted at #15
• Myles Murphy drafted at #28
• Felix Anudike-Uzomah drafted at #31
• Derick Hall drafted at #37
• Isaiah Foskey drafted at #40
• BJ Ojulari drafted at #41
• Keion White drafted at #46

Put simply, Gabriel is correct. The board was picked clean by the time Ryan Poles had his opportunities to take an edge rusher. Nobody had the same value as Darnell Wright at #10. Then at #53, eight more rushers were off the board. Anybody the Bears took likely would've been a significant reach. So Poles did what most reasonable GMs would've. He accepted reality and took the best player on his board. Not getting an edge rusher was unfortunate, but the Bears' GM understood he wouldn't be able to plug every hole this off-season. One or two positions would get neglected. Edge rusher was the big winner, or loser in this case.

The good news is the Bears still have plenty of money to spend. If somebody notable becomes available, they're well-equipped to take advantage. Barring that, they have two 1st round picks next year. Chicago will have more opportunities in the near future to fix that position.