Windy City Gridiron
Poles’ first-ever draft pick with the Bears got new paper, and it makes everyone look good.
Everything’s been coming up Ryan Poles so far this off-season as the Chicago Bears prepare for the NFL Draft next week.
A new head coach who can help unlock his franchise quarterback.
A revamped offensive line.
Now, his first-ever draft pick, cornerback Kyler Gordon, just got paid—and deservingly so.
But Poles signing the versatile nickel corner to a market-setting three-year, $40 million deal isn’t just a win for the player, who has rebounded from early injuries to become one of Chicago’s best overall players.
It’s also a victory for Poles himself.
Count me in the group who thought last year’s dysfunctional season, combined with the lack of meaningful production in Poles’ first two years, perhaps should’ve earned the fourth-year GM his walking papers. Whether Matt Eberflus was solely Poles’ idea or not, 15 wins in three years ain’t it. Bill Belichick got fired for less, after all.
But Poles has also made sure to gather a few feathers for his cap: flipping the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 for DJ Moore and the selection that eventually became Caleb Williams; selecting Williams; successfully selling Ben Johnson on Chicago; and now retooling the offensive line on the fly to jumpstart Williams’s second season.
Hitting on Gordon is an even more unique bonus. Remember the Bears didn’t have a first-round pick that year due to the Justin Fields trade in 2021, so it was essential to hit on their two second-round selections. They accomplished that objective with Gordon (No. 39) and Jaquan Brisker (No. 48).
That Gordon, who was an outside corner in college that made the switch inside in the NFL, has continued to develop into a player that is now the highest-paid at his position speaks to Poles’ eye for talent and a player’s potential to improve, as does Brisker (when healthy) and 2023 second-rounder Gervon Dexter.
Ultimately, success stories like that have been instrumental in keeping Poles in town to see his vision for the Bears through until the end.
It hasn’t been perfect or particularly pretty. But somehow, after all the strife, Poles has the Bears (on paper) in their best situation to meaningfully compete since the early 2010s. And it’s thanks to hitting on players like Gordon, who will only make more impact plays for the Bears going forward.
Let’s see if Poles can finally nail the big picture at quarterback and head coach, too.
