NFL Exec Says Ryan Poles Finally Fixed Bears Most Flawed Draft Philosophy

Ryan Poles made certain sections of the draft community mad with his decisions in the 2023 draft. First, it was by trading the #1 pick, passing on a chance to replace Justin Fields because he hadn't progressed enough as a passer in two years with no help and in two different offensive schemes. Second, it was because he passed on the chance to select highly-talented defensive tackle Jalen Carter from Georgia, whom many believe is the best overall player in the draft. Instead, Poles opted for big Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright.

The decision was logical. Chicago's offensive line was brutal last season, allowing 55 sacks on Fields. He needs protection. Wright was one of the best pass protectors in the country, proving himself in college football's best conference. It wasn't a flashy pick, but it was one Poles felt was best for the Bears. One NFL executive agrees. He told Mike Sando of The Athletic that the new Bears GM has finally corrected one of the biggest issues with the team's draft philosophy over the last several years. That is a willingness to invest 1st round picks in the offensive line.

“Anyone who thought the Bears were not spending their first pick on a lineman was drunk,” another exec said. “In a league where Bill Belichick was out there in free agency clapping over the fact he signed Riley Reiff, I think Chicago looked at Detroit as the model for building a solid offensive line. Think how many drafts Detroit took to shore up that line. That is what Chicago is going to do.”

Ryan Poles is smart to copy the Lions' approach.

People can criticize Detroit for many things. You can't argue their work along the offensive line has been a failure. Of the five starters they have up front, three of them were 1st round picks. Taylor Decker came in 2016, Frank Ragnow in 2018, and finally, Penei Sewell in 2021. Ragnow and Sewell have both made the Pro Bowl. Wright is the first offensive lineman taken by the Bears in the 1st round in ten years. Lions quarterback Jared Goff was only sacked 23 times last year. Imagine how much better Fields could be with such protection.

It's not like this philosophy hasn't worked for the Bears before. In 1981 they added tackle Keith Van Horne and in 1983 they got Jimbo Covert. Those two 1st round picks anchored Chicago's best offensive line in team history for the next decade. Ryan Poles understands if you want a top offensive line, you must be willing to invest in it. That is a lesson Ryan Pace never seemed to understand. Things have changed at Halas Hall. Wright might only be the first step in bigger things to come.