Ryan Poles accepted the Chicago Bears GM job because he'd coveted it for a long time. He got his start in the NFL as an undrafted free agent for the team back in 2008. Returning with an opportunity to get the franchise back on its feet was a challenge he relished. The job wasn't an easy one. His predecessor Ryan Pace had left the roster in a rough state. It was old, expensive, and in decline. Poles had a tough decision to make. In the end, he hit the reset button and started over.
The biggest challenge was the 2022 draft. Not only did he have no 1st round pick, thanks to the Justin Fields trade, but he also only had five picks in total. Putting together a credible class in those conditions is next to impossible. That didn't stop him from trying. Through a series of trades, Poles turned five picks into 11. From there, it was up to head coach Matt Eberflus to see if the team had anything to work with. Here is a final report card for the Bears' draft class with the season at an end.
Ryan Poles did okay with his first-ever draft class.
Kyler Gordon (CB, Washington): C
The top pick in the class had a nightmare start to the season. Quarterbacks picked on Gordon constantly, racking up a ridiculous amount of yards through the first month. He looked lost in coverage. Things began shifting by November. He'd settled down, made fewer mistakes, and snagged three interceptions down the stretch. He still has work to do, but he's trending in the right direction as a future starter.
Jaquan Brisker (S, Penn State): A
He was an immediate contributor from Day One. Brisker is a versatile force on the back end, able to make plays in coverage while also being their best blitzer in the secondary. He leads the team in sacks. His swagger and confidence also shine on and off the field. By next season, it wouldn't be a surprise if he's a core locker room leader. To get somebody like that with a late 2nd round pick is a win.
Velus Jones (WR, Tennessee): C-
There was a point in the year where this would've been an F. Expectations were high for Jones as a 3rd round pick. People expected him to help the offense right away. He hasn't really done that out of one or two big plays. Lucky for him, that disappointment was eased by his emergence as one of the best kick returners in the NFL, ranking second with 29.2 yards per return.
Braxton Jones (OT, Southern Utah): A
People will debate whether Jones had a good year. The truth is no, he didn't. He had an okay year by common NFL standards. However, keep this in mind. The Bears took him late in the 5th round out of a small school, and he will end up starting every game of the 2022 season at left tackle. He's also not even close to their worst blocker on the line. So yeah, this was a quality pick by Ryan Poles.
Dominique Robinson (DE, Miami Ohio): C
Chicago made it clear from the start that Robinson is a project. He only started playing defensive end late in college. He's exceedingly raw, and it's shown throughout this season. That said, there have been flashes of his natural ability. He has 14 total QB pressures and two sacks. Nobody is saying he's been a revelation. Still, getting consistent snaps from a late 5th rounder makes it a decent pick.
Zachary Thomas (OG, San Diego State): F
There isn't much to say about this one. Thomas arrived in the 6th round. He had some exciting traits but never distinguished himself during the summer. The Bears put him on the practice squad, where the Los Angeles Rams eventually claimed him.
Trestan Ebner (RB, Baylor): D
There was some excitement around Ebner for the different skill set he could offer the Bears at running back. He's quicker with good speed and receiving ability. That didn't translate to the field. He's averaging 2.3 per run with two catches for eight yards. He also has two fumbles. His adequate contributions as a kick returner are what help him avoid a failing grade.
Doug Kramer (C, Illinois): F
Injuries are an unfortunate reality in the NFL. Avoiding them is an everyday task for players. Sadly Kramer wasn't able to. He landed on Injured Reserve before the season even began and hasn't been back since. While the pick isn't dead yet, it's hard to call it anything but a failure.
Ja'Tyre Carter (OG, Southern): F
It was clear Ryan Poles was taking calculated swings on offensive linemen late in the draft to see if he could find one or two hidden gems. Carter was another in that group. Like Thomas and Kramer, he failed to make a significant impact and ended up injured.
Elijah Hicks (S, Cal): B-
It was one of the coolest moments of the Bears' draft when Hicks celebrated getting picked by doing pushups. He's found ways to contribute since then, recovering a fumble on defense while ranking second on the team with six special teams tackles. Getting that from a 7th round pick is solid textbook drafting.
Trenton Gill (P, North Carolina State): B
Drafting punters, in general, is frowned upon by some people. Yet it can sometimes prove to be a good decision. Gill doesn't rank high in most categories. That said, he has improved significantly over the past month with better yards per net average and punts downed inside the 20. He looks like somebody that can be a long-term fixture on special teams if he keeps honing his craft.
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