Ryan Poles' Comments Keep Indicating Their Plans For #9 Pick

The Chicago Bears are the team to watch in this 2024 draft. That is a surprise when you first think about it because they only have four picks total. Everybody believes the bigger the class you have, the better your odds of coming out with multiple good players. GM Ryan Poles is no stranger to that strategy. His first two drafts encompassed 21 players, far above the typical 14. So it is somewhat surprising that he would go into this draft with only four. It is a big reason why many believe the Bears may look to move down from the 9th spot after selecting Caleb Williams at #1.

However, it is always important to remember that Poles can offer hints about his intentions for a draft with his comments in press conferences. Last year, he openly admitted to Albert Breer that the odds were strong he would trade the #1 pick. "Over 50%," as he put it. Three days after that article came out, the Bears sent it to Carolina for their massive haul. This time around, it doesn't sound like Poles is as enthusiastic about the idea of moving down.

"I like the numbers in terms of the talented players that can get to nine," Poles said. "We're going to do some cool things when we get back, kind of break into teams. One team is going to talk about [why] the tackle position is the best to go after, [why] the receiver's the best, [why] the defensive end's the best and use factual information to spit that out—and we'll have a debate in terms of what's more impactful for our football team, short-term and long-term."...

..."I think it matches the draft," Poles said. "A lot of guys went back to school this year. I think you're going to see a significant drop off. Hopefully some guys squeak through, but the way we're set up in the draft this year actually pairs up really well with how I think it's going to play out."

Ryan Poles doesn't feel the depth of this draft is there.

That means the requirement to have more picks in the later rounds is diminished compared to previous years. His goal should be focusing on getting two blue-chip talents in the top 10. They can become foundational pieces that bring all the work he's done since 2022 together. There is also the fact that a market for #9 isn't likely to be strong. All of the top quarterbacks are expected to be gone within the first six or seven picks. Maybe even the top four. Unless a team in the teens range is absolutely desperate for a tackle or pass rusher, the odds of Chicago getting a strong return feel unlikely.

It doesn't seem as if Ryan Poles would be willing to sacrifice one of the elite talents he might get at that spot for maybe another Day 2 pick. Besides, he knows the Bears are slated to have nine picks next year, including two in the 2nd round. This isn't like previous regimes where the team would constantly have fewer than-average picks every year. It is a one-time thing, and they hold two of the most important picks in the entire draft. If Poles hits on both, this team is about to get good in a hurry.