LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — At the end of his second NFL Draft leading the Bears' football operations, general manager Ryan Poles scouted out a celebratory pour of bourbon back home.
"A little Jefferson's Ocean, maybe," Poles said Saturday evening.
Nearly five months ago, the Bears finished their first year led by Poles with a 3-14 record, staking their claim to the No. 1 overall pick in this NFL Draft. Chicago also owned the most salary cap space in the league. All of that was the byproduct of a teardown and rebuild initiated by Poles.
The Bears controlled much of the offseason, and they certainly had the attention of the rest of the NFL. On March 10, Poles struck a deal with the Panthers to send the No. 1 pick to Carolina in exchange for the No. 9 overall pick, a 2024 first-round selection, a pair of second-round picks and dynamic receiver DJ Moore. Shortly after in free agency, the Bears signed linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and linebacker T.J. Edwards, among others.
On Thursday evening, the Bears moved back once more to No. 10 overall, where they selected Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright, who was the top tackle on the team's draft board, Poles said.
Wright headlined the Bears' 10-man draft class, which included the addition of several prospects who are projected to start immediately.
“We’ve accomplished a lot,” Poles said. “I wanted to get bigger, faster. I wanted to find areas that we needed to get better and put players that can impact the game in those spaces and get better, and I think we’ve done that."
The Bears turned the No. 1 overall selection into the acquisitions of Moore, Wright, Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (after trading a fifth-rounder to move up five slots from No. 61 to No. 56 in the second round), a 2024 first-round pick, a 2024 fourth-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick. The Bears' trade of star linebacker Roquan Smith to the Ravens last season helped create the salary space to sign Edmunds, and the picks that Chicago received in return were used on Florida defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. in the second round and Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell in the fifth round. Poles has flipped the assets he had available into pieces that offer promise.
Since Poles took office at Halas Hall in late January 2022, he has set course on a plan to carefully rebuild the Bears with the hope of creating sustained success. It's a process that has required a great deal of patience, never more so than during a three-win first season.
The Bears still aren't on the cusp of contention as they look ahead to the 2023 season, but that was never a goal for Poles in this offseason. His blueprint will require at least one more year of developing players on the roster before filling voids once again in free agency next March and capitalizing on another draft in 2024.
For Poles and the Bears, this offseason was a key opportunity to continue building a strong and lasting foundation.
"He’s the same guy every day, and it’s that calm presence that he has," said Bears co-director of player personnel Trey Koziol, who came up with Poles in the Chiefs' scouting department.
"He could be on the biggest stage, and he’s going to be the same guy as when you see him out on the golf course just hanging out one-on-one. He never gets too rattled. He’s a very calming presence."
Now, the greatest challenge begins for the Bears. With Poles having stocked the roster with more potential, coach Matt Eberflus and his staff must develop the team into the contender that Poles has envisioned.
The Bears believe they have a long-term answer at right tackle in Wright. Chicago then selected a trio of talented-but-raw defenders in defensive lineman Dexter, cornerback Stevenson and defensive lineman Zacch Pickens on Friday. The Bears believe all three can fit Eberflus' defensive identity.
On offense, Poles is confident that he has supplied third-year quarterback Justin Fields with enough weapons and protection to take a big step forward in 2023.
Eberflus was hired by the Bears in large part because Poles believed Eberflus was the candidate who could best mold young talent. The Bears are now counting on Eberflus to see through the development of this roster.
"That’s why I hired these coaches as teachers," Eberflus said. "They all have a heart of service, and they love to teach and they’re good teachers. We pride ourselves on developing these young guys, (and) we’re not afraid to put young guys in there. If guys are good enough to start, we’re going to put them in there and play them. We’re excited about the competition with the young guys and the guys we added last year. We’ll see where it goes. We’re going to play with the best guys. Our coaches have done a really nice job with developing the guys.”
As Poles, Eberflus and the Bears returned to Halas Hall following their second draft together, they were already looking forward to the work that lies ahead.
Poles is evaluating the veteran pass rushers who are still available on the open market after the team didn't address the position in the draft. Eberflus and his staff are preparing for a rookie minicamp that will be held this weekend, when the Bears' 10-man draft class, undrafted free agents who were signed and tryout players will look to make an impression.
At the end of a potentially transformational period for the Bears, Poles took a pause away from Halas Hall. He feels satisfied with the team's efforts to this point, but he knows well these are just the early phases of a grand plan.
“It’s a long journey in terms of getting to the top," Poles said. "I don’t know if you ever get the perfect roster, but that’s what we chase all the time. But I think we’ve done a good job taking the proper steps to improve our football team.
"I’m excited about where we’re headed. We’ve been able to do things the right way, and that’s opened up opportunity. Now you look forward to winning more football games."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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