The Chicago Bears' offseason has been a tough one for new general manager Ryan Poles, as his biggest free-agent signings have fallen through. On Monday, the Buffalo Bills announced that they would match the offer sheet the Bears signed restricted free agent offensive guard Ryan Bates to. Following the failed physical by free agent defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, the start of Poles' general manager tenure is off to an unfortunate start.

Everything Has Going Against The Bears This Offseason

The Bills matching Bates' offer sheet results in the Bills retaining the promising offensive guard, who would have been a vital addition to the Bears' starting offensive line. One of Poles' main goals this offseason has been to rebuild the Bears' offensive line to help protect second-year quarterback Justin Fields. Chicago has missed signing several talented offensive linemen free agents through the first few weeks of free agency, including Terron Armstead, Larmy Tunsil, Bradley Bozeman, and Brian Allen. Although Poles has made a few free-agent signings, including defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad and former Packers' offensive guard Lucas Patrick, the Bears have yet to make an impactful free-agent signing. Ogunjobi was supposed to be the first significant addition to new head coach Matt Eberflus' new Cover-2 defensive scheme. The signing would have given Chicago a proven three-technique defensive tackle to pair with Muhammad on a revamped defensive line.

The one positive for Poles during his first offseason as general manager has been the ability to create cap space for this season and upcoming offseasons. He has cut costly and aging defensive stars such as Danny Trevathan and Eddie Goldman. Poles freed up the most cap space by trading All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2022 second-round draft selection. The moves made by Chicago's general manager have put the team in a terrific position to be competitive to sign the best free agents over the next few off-seasons, but even those plans have fizzled out for the Bears in recent weeks. With a projected salary cap space of over 100 million dollars following the 2022 season, the Bears were expected to make a strong run for the best offensive free agents. Fans and journalists hoped that projected free agent wide receivers, including Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill, would potentially be signed by the Bears due to the team's massive salary cap space. Adams and Hill have now both been traded to new NFL teams and have signed contract extensions taking them off the free agency market for next offseason.

Poles Will Have To Create His Own Luck Via The Draft and Through Trades

Now that it appears unlikely that the Bears will make any more significant free-agent signings in the upcoming weeks, Poles will have to improve Chicago's roster through the NFL Draft in late April. The Bears will have six selections in the 2022 NFL Draft, including two second-round picks. Poles will likely utilize the two selections to improve the offense as Chicago is projected to draft both a wide receiver and offensive lineman to help Fields improve at quarterback.

Poles will also need to find at least one defensive starter in this year's NFL draft, as Chicago has not addressed their cornerback and linebacker positions. Eberflus' new defense will need players that fit the scheme as the Bears are transitioning from a 3-4 defense to a Cover-2. Poles can recover from a bad free agency period by finding quality prospects in the mid and late rounds of this year's NFL draft. If the Bears' general manager can find three to four quality prospects that can contribute in 2022, this will put Chicago in a better position to rebuild. Although it may be hard for Poles to find the impactful wide receiver he needs to help Fields' growth at the quarterback position, it may be in the Bears' best interest to trade for a proven wide receiver. The Seattle Seahawks are likely to be rebuilding after trading away All-Pro quarterback Russell Wilson and releasing linebacker Bobby Wagner. Poles could trade a third or fourth-round draft selection for wide receiver DK Metcalf and then sign him to a contract extension, as Metcalf will be a free agent following the 2022 season. Trading for a proven receiver like Metcalf would enable Poles to use either one or both second-round draft selections on defense instead of offense. A trade and extension of a veteran wide receiver would also allow the Bears' to focus on defensive free agents next offseason. Poles and Eberflus have more needs to address on defense than on offense, but they can speed up addressing those needs if they get creative with a trade to address their receiver need.

Poles' general manager career has not gotten off to a positive start following several missed free agent signings. Although Bears fans are growing frustrated with the team's inaction in free agency at the moment, they must trust that the new general manager has backup plans to improve the roster this offseason. Although luck has not been on Poles' side yet, he has a chance to still change the Bears' fortune before the start of the 2022 season.