Monday night in Washington revealed two things. The first is that Darnell Wright has arrived. Ryan Poles' first official 1st round pick as a GM dominated the Commanders in every facet of the game, allowing one pressure and blowing open holes in the run game. It was a star-making performance. However, it didn't stop there. After reviewing the tape, multiple experts at the national level agreed on another fact. The Chicago Bears may have discovered a hidden gem at left tackle as well.
Theo Benedet is the real deal.
Nobody gave him the time of day last year. Benedet was a standout at the University of British Columbia in 2022 and 2023. That didn't mean much since most players who come from Canada don't transition well to the American version of football. Still, Benedet excelled on the All-Star game circuit and impressed the Bears enough to earn an undrafted contract. One year later, his work in training camp stood out to new head coach Ben Johnson, who elevated him to the primary backup tackle.
Then Braxton Jones got benched during the game in Las Vegas. Just like that, Benedet was promoted to starter. On Monday night, he put the league on notice. He isn't a fluke.
Ryan Poles deserves credit where it's due.
The criticism of the Bears GM over the past several months has been well-earned. He has had some poorly judged misfires during his tenure. That said, it is important to be fair in these assessments. Give the man his props when they're earned. It sure looks like he scored a big hit with Benedet. People don't understand how difficult it is to find capable starters in undrafted free agency, but it's doubly so for offensive linemen. Only around 11% of all starters in the NFL are undrafted.
If the experts are right and the Bears may have found a legitimate solution in Benedet, Ryan Poles may have pulled off one of the rarer feats a general manager can accomplish in this league. It would also alter the team's plans for the 2026 offseason. Instead of focusing on the search to find a left tackle, they could devote their resources to other positions of need.
