Insider Confirms Added Wrinkle To Bears' Jalen Carter Decision

Probably the most controversial decision of the Chicago Bears' 2023 off-season came when GM Ryan Poles elected to pass on drafting Georgia defensive tackle, Jalen Carter. Some people couldn't understand it. He was the best talent in the draft and a perfect fit for Matt Eberflus' defense. Passing on him made little sense despite the obvious character concerns. Poles never addressed the Carter decision directly but did indicate character was, is and will continue to be a top priority for this organization.

There is also the fact that Darnell Wright likely swayed their decision more than people want to admit. The big offensive tackle was already somebody Poles liked from watching the tape. After some positive interviews, he won everybody over with a stellar workout during his private visit with the team, showing both mental and physical toughness. Once it became clear Wright was the guy, Poles' objective with Carter shifted. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN revealed how things unfolded from there.

"Wright thrived in pre-draft workouts, including a stellar combine performance, and was perhaps the most gifted tackle in the class, though some teams had maturity concerns. The Bears were good with Wright's character, believing he worked his way through a bumpy early college career. The Bears wanted to trade back to acquire additional draft capital leading up to the draft, believing Jalen Carter might be there to entice Philly at No. 10."

Poles played the Jalen Carter card to perfection.

He got his wish. The defensive tackle slipped to #9. It was obvious Philadelphia wanted him, needing a replacement for the departed Javon Hargrave. Poles made it well-known leading up to the draft that the Bears wanted to move down. That created uncertainty for Eagles GM Howie Roseman. There was likely a fear that another team might try to leapfrog them to snag Carter out from under their noses. So Roseman didn't take any chances, offering the Bears a 4th round pick in 2024 to swap spots.

Poles took it without a second thought. He added another selection to his future inventory and knew he'd be guaranteed to land his guy at #10. That is textbook draft manipulation by the Bears' GM. Time will tell if he made the right decision. There is every chance Jalen Carter will become the star defensive tackle everybody expects him to be. However, don't expect Poles to lose sleep over it. He believes in his draft philosophy and clearly felt Carter wasn't worth the risk. If he's proven correct, that maneuver last month will be viewed as one of the best a Bears GM has pulled off in years.