Trading No. 1 overall pick, Ryan Poles struggles with ‘when’ not ‘if’

It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Bears will trade the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft. The question is when they will, not if.

Peter King directs his latest Football Morning in America column with key comments from Bears general manager Ryan Poles, who will make the final call on when and where the Bears will go with the first pick they earned when the Texans blew it up by beating the Colts to cap the regular season 2022.

“Should we do this before free agency? The Poles told King. “Or should we wait? I don’t know. This is what I communicated (to the teams). I could wear this until we’re on time on draft night. But then there are teams that want some certainty because “If I need a bad quarterback, do I have to do it now while some of these guys, like Derek Carr, are out there. ?” To me, they have to go so much higher to do that now.

The Poles explained that he was not “greedy”, but that in order to conclude an agreement now “they will have to go beyond”.

Either way, at some point the deal will be done. Because, wisely, the Bears won’t give up on current quarterback Justin Fields.


“When we started adjusting and adapting to what he was doing well, and he started running the ball a bit, we saw a very unique and special ability and talent that can change the game. “, Poles told King, adding that the next step is to work on making him a more effective passer. “I think there’s potential for us to have something really good, and for me, you have to see it through to the end.”

Poles said he believes he can get an additional first-round pick in 2024 as well as an additional first-round pick in 2025 while getting one of the top six or eight players on his roster.

One way to do this might be to trade twice. Go back with the Texans to make sure they get their best quarterback, then auction off the No. 2 pick to teams like the Colts, Falcons and Panthers. Or maybe the Poles can just tap into Carolina owner David Tepper’s chronic quest for a franchise quarterback and lead him to pull out all the stops to reach No. 1.

Or maybe instead of twice it will be three times, going from No. 1 to No. 2 with the Texans, then to No. 4 with the Colts, then to No. 8 or No. 9 with the Falcons or the Panthers, with each team popping up to get a quarterback.

The problem with options is that Poles ultimately have to choose one. The challenge will be knowing when to do it. When to maximize transport. Should we risk waiting so long that the offers start moving in the other direction.

It could happen. If Tepper’s impulses get the team to sign Derek Carr, there will be one less paddle in the auction for first place, or the lower spot the Bears acquire. If the Falcons make a play for Lamar Jackson and land, they’ll be out of the running as well.

Anyway, the Bears are sitting well. They have a bird in their hands, and they have three or four teams ready to drop future first-round picks for the proverbial two in the bush. The challenge becomes picking the right moment to beat the bushes for a trade, or two (or three), on the board.

Leave a Comment