Ryan Poles Needs To Decide Which Side Of The Ball Is Closer To Getting The Bears To A Championship

The 2024 NFL Draft is almost three weeks away as all focus has shifted from what the Chicago Bears will do with the first overall selection to what they will do with the ninth overall selection. Following the trade of quarterback Justin Fields, it is almost a certainty the team will draft USC signal-caller Caleb Williams first overall but there is uncertainty on what position they will utilize the ninth pick on. General manager Ryan Poles has constructed a roster that is on the verge of competing for the post-season but now needs to ask whether he believes the offense or defense will be the prominent side of the ball.

The Choice With The Ninth Selection Will Show How Poles Wants To Win Going Forward

With the ninth selection, it appears Poles and his front office have narrowed the pick down to taking either a wide receiver, defensive end, or offensive lineman. The main objective will be to either give Williams another piece to assist with his growth once in the NFL or give assistance to Chicago's best defensive player, Montez Sweat. However, Poles' choice will have a direct impact on the most significant position on either offense or defense.

If the Bears decide to take one of the three best wide receiving prospects available in Marvin Harrison Jr, Malik Nabers, or Rome Odunze, the front office will be giving whoever their starting quarterback is the best-receiving group in the NFL. Pairing an elite-level rookie with two 1,000-yard wide receivers, Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, along with Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, and D'Andre Swift, would give the Bears one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Another route Poles can take with the ninth selection to aid the offensive side of the ball for Chicago is to draft an offensive lineman, as there is a chance the second-best offensive tackle will be available. Given the success with drafting tackle Darnell Wright last season, who was one of the best rookie offensive linemen, the Bears could give Williams two cornerstone tackles for years to come. Protection and a solid offensive line for a first-round quarterback have been a recurring issue for NFL teams over the past few decades.

On the other side of the ball, Poles has a dire need to address the defensive end position opposite of Sweat, as the team couldn't address the position during free agency despite several elite-level pass-rushers being available. Depending on how the first eight selections play out, there is a legitimate possibility that the Bears could have the opportunity to draft the first and best defensive player in the draft. Coupling Dallas Turner, Laiatu Latu, or Jared Verse with Sweat would be a prominent pass-rush combination that would aid one of the league's best pass-defense secondaries.

The goal for Poles is to determine which side of the ball becomes the best feature of the Bears' roster and will be the driving factor for their wins in 2024. The defense was one of the best in the NFL last season despite a horrendous start, as the unit finished the season with the most interceptions. Although Poles is building a talented offense for Williams, it may take time for the rookie to adjust to facing pro-level defenses, resulting in growing pains.

The Houston Texans Are A Blue Print For What The Bears Are Attempting To Become

What Poles is attempting to do with the Bears is almost similar to what the Houston Texans have done over the past two off-seasons to build their roster around quarterback C.J. Stroud. In last year's NFL Draft, the Texans drafted Stroud with the second overall selection and then surprisingly traded with the Arizona Cardinals to acquire the third overall selection to take defensive end Will Anderson. The trade instantly allowed Houston to have two foundation pieces on both sides of the ball to rebuild their roster, which later resulted in the team making the playoffs in 2023.

Due to Stroud's success with having Anderson on defense to build around, the Texans utilized this offseason to add to both sides of the ball to aid both players' development. In free agency, the team signed arguably the best defensive pass-rusher available in Danielle Hunter, who has recorded four seasons of 12.5 or more sacks. On offense, Houston traded for Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to give Stroud an elite pass-catcher while already having a 1,000-yard receiver in Nico Collins.

Having Hunter to pair with Anderson and having Diggs with Stroud gives the Texans a strong chance of making a deep playoff run while also ensuring assistance with development by having an elite-level supporting cast. Poles is attempting something similar, having traded for Allen and having an opportunity to draft the best defensive end prospect to play opposite of Sweat.

Poles has done a solid job of overhauling Chicago's roster over the past two seasons, but the opportunity the team has in the 2024 NFL Draft is like none other. Like the Texans, the Bears have the chance of a lifetime to take the best quarterback available while adding another top-level offensive talent or taking the best defensive prospect in the draft. Poles must decide whether his offense or defense will be the prominent unit and use the ninth pick to elevate that side of the ball to one of the best units in the NFL.