Somehow The Chicago Bears' Draft Projection Keeps Getting Better

Ryan Poles already yielded more than enough benefits from the 2023 trade with the Carolina Panthers to call it an unqualified success. D.J. Moore is a star at wide receiver. Darnell Wright and Tyrique Stevenson have become solid starters. Best of all, it appears the Chicago Bears may have finally secured their franchise quarterback with Caleb Williams. If things keep progressing as they have, it will go down as the single greatest trade in franchise history. Yet none of that is the crazy part.

It is that the trade still isn't finished.

The Bears have another 2nd round pick coming from the Panthers next spring. Not only that but based on what is happening out east, there is a strong possibility that the pick will be the highest or second-highest in the entire draft. Carolina was crushed again on Sunday by Washington to push their record to 1-6. They are now in a tie with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns for worst in the NFL. What makes is worse is they have no way of correcting the tailspin. Their offense is 28th overall and their defense is 32nd.

There are maybe two games left on the schedule they have any hope of winning (Saints and Giants).

The Chicago Bears are beautifully set up for the future.

They already have a roster equipped enough to compete for the playoffs despite being in the league's toughest division. Their defense is a top-10 unit. Now, the offense is starting to put up points, littered with playmakers at every position. What makes it so much better is Poles didn't have to mortgage the future to reach this point, as Ryan Pace did in 2018 with the Khalil Mack trade. In addition to the current roster, Chicago has over $72 million in projected salary cap space next year, along with three picks in the first two rounds.

The top of the 2nd round has always been a hotbed for finding elite NFL players. Names like Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, Landon Collins, Donovan Smith, and Demarcus Lawrence have all gone in the first two spots of that range. Pittsburgh took Joey Porter Jr. with the Chicago Bears' 2nd rounder two years ago, courtesy of the Chase Claypool trade. It is a premium spot. Considering Poles has an excellent track record in the 2nd round (Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, Gervon Dexter, Stevenson), there is every reason to think he should conclude the trade with a flourish.