Ryan Poles Explains Lack Of Aggression Building Around Justin Fields

Ryan Poles knew what he would do before the offseason ever started. He didn't just decide this strategy for the Chicago Bears on a last-second whim. He likely anticipated the backlash from fans over his perceived lack of aggressiveness in free agency. The general explanation from the most upset people is always the same. He has to work hard to build around Justin Fields. That rookie contract won't last long. They must take advantage of it. Poles could've done what his predecessor Ryan Pace did and deflected the questions with calming platitudes. Instead, the young GM offered an earnest answer as to why he's taking the approach he has. It stems from a series of calculated reasons, starting with the fact the entire team needs attention, and it takes a whole team to win games. Then comes the more complicated issues the Bears faced from the jump according to Adam Jahns of The Athletic.

“Coming from where I just came from, I want to give (Fields) everything I possibly can, but you still have to construct an entire team,” Poles said. “You can’t go blank in one area and then just load up in one area.” “We’re always going to be aggressive to get (Fields) the tools he needs to be successful,” Poles said. “It’s just the timing, and the talent level and the cap situation, all of those are going to dictate when we can go and when we can’t go. But I think what we’ve done so far is at least establish a little bit of growth in the roster, plus the scheme, with the coaching, I see him getting better even from what we did right now.”

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What Poles says here is relatively straightforward.

In essence, the Bears don't have a healthy enough salary cap situation to be aggressive. On top of that, the general talent level of the 2022 free agent class didn't warrant it anyway. Most of the players that might've been worth a significant push either re-signed with their current teams or were franchise tagged. The right situation never materialized, and Ryan Poles had no intention of trying to force the issue. From his point of view, the team has already improved. Not by a lot but by some. He feels the additions of Lucas Patrick and Byron Pringle will help the roster more than people think. He also feels the coaching staff is far better equipped to work to Fields' strengths as a quarterback than the previous one. It isn't enough, but it's a start and more moves are definitely to come.