NFL Exec Reveals Ryan Poles' Likely Plans For The 2024 Draft

The Chicago Bears have two games left. They're 6-9, an improvement over last year's 3-14 record. If not for some ugly 4th quarter collapses, they would be 9-6 and in position to clinch a playoff berth. GM Ryan Poles has to be encouraged by the team's progress. His work to rapidly retool the roster after tearing it down is encouraging. He's added several productive pieces both via free agency and the draft. Two huge trade acquisitions in D.J. Moore and Montez Sweat have also accelerated the timetable.

Yet such excitement is subdued among fans. They still sense considerable problems with this team, chiefly among the coaching staff and at quarterback. Matt Eberflus and Justin Fields came in with high expectations surrounding them this year. Neither has honestly met them for different reasons. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune spoke with a high-level NFL executive about the state of the Bears looking toward 2024. He spoke glowingly of Poles' work on the roster and how close the team is to challenging Detroit for the division.

There was one exception. Fields has to go.

“The Bears are not that not far off,” he said. “They’ve found a way to match up really well with the Lions when they’ve played them. That’s a positive sign. They are a young team with a lot of developing talent. They’ve got key players in key positions.

“Look, the right tackle is solidified. They’ve got a playmaker at wide receiver and a good tight end. They still need to work on the interior of the offensive line. Right now, their defense is really good. Lot of young players under contract. They have to take care of Jaylon Johnson.

“They are a team that is not far away from competing for a division title. They’re not that far...

...It’s just what they decide to do in March and April,” he said. “You cannot watch that game today and say that Justin Fields threw for 35 yards in the second half against that Arizona defense — that might be the worst secondary I have seen this season — and say he’s the quarterback. You can’t. It’s just not good enough."

This feeds into rumors of Ryan Poles' draft plans.

Biggs himself has expressed confidence that, presuming the Bears land the #1 overall pick from Carolina, he will trade Fields and secure a quarterback of his choosing. Some fans may not like that. They feel the young QB has done enough to justify more time. Based on what the executive said, that isn't the case. To win at a high level in the NFL, you must be a competent pocket passer to some degree. Fields hasn't done. His processing speed is still too slow, leading him to hold the ball too long and take unnecessary hits or sacks. He still can't attack the middle of the field with any consistency (six of his nine INTs are in that area).

Average quarterbacks should be able to manage 200 yards passing per game in today's NFL. Justin Fields is on pace for 195, which would be by far his career high. His touchdown production (15) is also misleading. Eight of them came in that two-game stretch against Denver and Washington. The remaining seven happened across the other nine games. Sunday marked the sixth straight game he had one or fewer touchdown passes. Like it or not, the executive is correct. Chicago is never going to win in the playoffs with that kind of production through the air.

While the decision may appear difficult for fans, it probably isn't for Ryan Poles.