(670 The Score) If you listened carefully, new general manager Ryan Poles told us this was coming. No, he didn’t go as far as announcing the Bears would embark on a full-blown rebuild, but he acknowledged the roster badly needed an overhaul.
When previewing free agency and what was to follow, Poles pointed to the Bears’ need for “volume” this offseason. That meant he saw what was clear in 2021 – Chicago wasn’t close to contending for a Super Bowl championship. He arrived at Halas Hall in late January and soon evaluated every player and play from the Bears' disappointing 2021 season.
“You see it for what the tape is telling you,” Poles said.
He was watching a 6-11 football team.
When Poles declared at his introductory press conference the Bears would “take the North and never give it back,” there was a reason he didn’t put a timetable on it. He knew well that time is needed to build around 23-year-old quarterback Justin Fields.
Poles has brought the Bears exactly the type of boring offseason that was needed toward the end of former general manager Ryan Pace’s seven-year tenure. Poles is working carefully to retool the roster rather than getting lost in win-now mode. This is the slow play, a more prudent approach that's also a wise one.
It started with the trade of star pass rusher Khalil Mack to the Chargers in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick. Mack is a luxury and a difference-making talent for a team ready to win right now. Poles knows that’s not the Bears, and he was willing to bet the 31-year-old Mack doesn’t live up to his contract billing after years of wear and tear.
Then came free agency for the Bears, with Poles being as “selective” as he promised in his introduction at Halas Hall. Chicago has signed seven unrestricted free agents who weren’t previously with the team. The common theme of that group is each player seemed underutilized on his previous team, hit the market young and has joined the Bears on a short-term deal. Poles hasn't yet signed a player for more than two years.
New wide receivers Byron Pringle (Chiefs) and Equanimeous St. Brown (Packers) never got the opportunity to emerge into big roles in star-studded offenses but will get the chance to be top targets for the Bears. Center Lucas Patrick was primarily a reserve in Green Bay who's now being tasked with anchoring Chicago's offensive line. Defensive tackle Justin Jones (Chargers) and defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (Colts) were often rotational pieces previously – and will now be counted on as starters.
Poles also kept the long-term health of the organization at the forefront when he backed out of a three-year, $40.5-million deal for defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi, whose physical concerned the Bears’ medical staff. While it’s unclear what caused Ogunjobi to fail the physical, he underwent foot surgery two months ago. Clearly, Poles was worried Ogunjobi wouldn’t live up to his contract and owned the initial mistake – even though it perhaps cast doubt over a rookie general manager.
With all that in mind, don’t mistake rebuilding for tanking, which can be a misleading term in our sports lexicon. The Bears’ goal for 2022 is for Fields to have a successful year of development thanks in part to the revamped group around him. Poles doesn’t want this team to go 0-17, but he also isn’t going all in the way Pace did.
The Bears have made rather low-risk signings that offer potentially strong rewards. If one of Pringle or St. Brown emerges as a dynamic receiver for Fields, it’s a win. If either Jones or Muhammad matches Mack’s production this season, it was a worthwhile pivot. It's all part of Poles' vision to add volume to the roster.
Look for that trend to continue in Poles’ first draft, as the Bears presently own just six selections. While it could be tempting to package the two second-round picks to move up for a premier prospect, it seems more likely that the Bears accumulate another extra selection and make more than six picks.
“There’s a lot of spots we got to fill,” Poles said. “So, that volume piece is important. And it really comes down to our evaluation, to make sure that we’re right on that.”
Poles was trying to tell you what was coming. It’s a careful process to build the Bears back toward sustained success.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.