Why Bears Scouts Reportedly Got Mad At Ryan Poles Before The Draft

Ryan Poles isn't what you'd call a domineering GM. He doesn't have to ensure every single evaluation regarding players comes directly from him. The Chicago Bears' leading man has made it his mission to give his scouts more power in the draft process. He wants them to have legitimate voices in helping shape the roster. This way, he gets a clear idea of certain players he should pay attention to if all of them happen to share the same opinion. This is a great way to build unity in the front office, but it got him in a little bit of trouble leading up to the 2023 draft.

The Bears Youtube channel released another episode of 1920 Football Drive. This one covered the events leading up to the draft. Soon the subject of 4th round pick Roschon Johnson came up. The Texas running back was apparently a favorite of the entire scouting department. Everybody loved his talent and especially his character. Poles kept hearing it from one scout after another. It was relentless. So at one point, he decided to tease them a little bit.

That didn't go over too well.

That was when Ryan Poles knew they were serious.

To them, Johnson was not a player to joke about. He was the real deal. He had the kind of versatile skill set they covet in players, both as a runner, a receiver, and a pass protector. Beyond that, he had what Joe Syty called an "it" factor about him. His work ethic is unparalleled, and he's a natural-born leader. Bijan Robinson may have been the starter at Texas, but everybody knew Johnson commanded that running back room. On almost any other roster in the country, he's the unquestioned starter.

Many people familiar with Johnson already predict he will emerge as the Bears' leading back before the end of 2023. Ryan Poles will know who to thank if that happens. The relentless push from his scouting department for the young man was crucial to making the pick happen. Such an approach worked out well last year. By letting his scouts take the lead on Day 3, Poles secured Braxton Jones at left tackle. This approach figures to continue. Maybe without the small teasing whenever everybody talks a player up.