INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (670 The Score) – In his first three years in Chicago, Bears general manager Ryan Poles has typically had a cautious approach each offseason.
That may be about to change. Poles sees the Bears in a different position as this 2025 offseason has begun. He has a new head coach in Ben Johnson who’s aligned with his vision, a 23-year-old quarterback in Caleb Williams in whom he believes and a roster hoping for a breakthrough.
With that in mind, Poles seems ready to adjust his approach.
"We can be aggressive in the way that we approach this offseason and get players in here that help us take the next step,” Poles said Tuesday at the NFL Combine.
The Bears have a projected $74.7 million of cap space, according to Spotrac, the fourth-most in the NFL. They also own the No. 10 overall pick and a pair of second-round picks in the NFL Draft in late April.
Poles is ready to get aggressive because of how the Bears’ disastrous 2024 season panned out. Chicago went 5-12 in a season that was derailed by a 10-game losing streak. Poles fired head coach Matt Eberflus in late November, paving the way to hire Johnson in January.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams struggled for long stretches as a rookie in large part due to the inconsistency around him. He threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions but was sacked an NFL-high 68 times.
With that as context, the Bears will prioritize improving their offensive line this offseason. The top offensive lineman available in free agency is Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith, whom the Chiefs selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft when Poles was working in Kansas City’s front office.
On Tuesday, Poles declined to specifically address Smith – who’s still a member of the Chiefs at this time – but indicated he’ll be ready to pursue a player of his caliber.
“The clearer the vision, the more aggressive you can be, and that's important,” Poles said. “You want to be selective in free agency.
“But if there are certain players that hit all the check boxes that you need, there’s really no reason to hold back and you can be aggressive in those situations.”
The Bears’ offseason will begin to take shape in Indianapolis this week. The NFL open negotiation period will begin on March 10, and players and teams are permitted to formalize deals two days later. The NFL Draft will start April 24 in Green Bay.
Poles is encouraged by what the Bears could accomplish in the coming months.
"What I like about the pairing so far in free agency and the draft is I do believe the supply of players match our needs,” Poles said.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.