Ryan Poles hasn't betrayed any of his off-season plans thus far. His only notable move was trading a 5th round pick to Buffalo for interior offensive lineman Ryan Bates. He should bring much-needed depth with starting experience at center and guard. However, the big moves for the Chicago Bears are still to come. Poles has a host of resources available, including $56 million in salary cap space and two picks in the top 10 of the draft. It isn't a question of whether Poles will take big swings. It is about where.
Everybody knows that the top draft pick is reserved for a quarterback. The writing is on the wall for Justin Fields. He will be traded at some point in the next month. The intrigue starts with that #9 pick where the Bears could go for anything. Some believe it could be a pass rusher. Others hope for a franchise left tackle. Insider Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network has it on good authority that it will be a wide receiver. Not only that, but he's confident from what he's hearing that won't be the only swing Poles takes at the position.
"We’re told that the Bears are planning to add at least two wide receivers this offseason, and this area is around where Odunze — who our sources say isn’t too far behind Harrison in grades from around the NFL — could be selected.
During our talks with NFL sources at the Combine, there was a growing sense that fourth-year WR Darnell Mooney would be playing elsewhere this coming season, which would leave the door open for adding Odunze here."
The Chicago Bears have good reasons to double-dip at receiver.
While they do have D.J. Moore, the depth behind him is questionable at best. Darnell Mooney is leaving in free agency. Neither Velus Jones nor Tyler Scott established themselves as viable options. If Poles is going to make things as easy as possible for his next young quarterback, it is his responsibility to stockpile as many weapons as possible. Taking a receiver at #9 makes plenty of sense. That means they could either take another later in the draft or dabble in the looming free agent market.
With the franchise tag deadline passed, the list of names available is as follows:
- Calvin Ridley
- Marquise Brown
- Gabe Davis
- Curtis Samuel
- Odell Beckham
- Tyler Boyd
- K.J. Osborne
It isn't exactly a star-studded group, but any of those players would make strong #3 options alongside Moore and a perceived 1st round pick. That would give the Chicago Bears' next quarterback plenty of firepower to excel right away. It is something this franchise hasn't done in years past. Maybe this is a reminder Poles has a clear vision of what must be done.
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