Bears GM Ryan Poles Relies on Matt Eberflus' Influence in Building Roster
As the Bears look to rebuild their team, both Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles understand the importance of a cohesive partnership. With Eberflus taking a CEO-style approach to his coaching, he is heavily involved in scouting for free agents and draft prospects alongside Poles. As the team heads into free agency and the draft, the two need to remain unified in their decisions.
Despite the challenges that come with being a new coach, Eberflus has remained focused on the task at hand. He hasn't flinched as Poles stripped the defense and offloaded stars like Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, and Robert Quinn. While demolition was the first step, construction is now underway.
Eberflus has evaluated over 60 free agents and written reports on each one. He's also done the same for the draft prospects. His goal is to be on the same page as Poles when they make their selections. This partnership appears to be much stronger than the previous ones the Bears have had with their coaches and general managers.
The Bears' Decision to Hire Coaches before GM Raises Concerns, But Relationship with Poles and Eberflus Looks Promising
When the Bears began interviewing coaches before hiring Ryan Poles as general manager, some critics worried that they were repeating the mistakes of the past. However, the Bears seem to have struck gold with their current coaching staff and GM partnership.
Poles made it clear from day one that he had chosen Matt Eberflus as his coach, and they have maintained a united front in terms of roster building. This was evident when the Bears made a move for defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, a player coveted by Eberflus, showing that Poles was willing to trust his coach's judgement.
As the Bears move into the offseason, Poles will need to continue to trust Eberflus' view on pending free agents and rookies entering the final year of their contracts. If Eberflus is sold on a player like cornerback Jaylon Johnson, Poles must be willing to pay up to secure him on an extension. The same goes for any free agents or draft prospects that Eberflus has fully vetted, such as Javon Hargrave and Orlando Brown.
In the draft, the Bears will need to stay high in the first round to land a game-changing talent like Will Anderson or Jalen Carter. It remains to be seen how successful the Bears will be, but the relationship between Poles and Eberflus is promising and gives fans hope for a brighter future.
Having had to work with the Bears' roster last season, Bears coach Matt Eberflus has a comprehensive understanding of the team's needs. The Bears require almost everything, as they were the worst passing team in the NFL with budget-friendly offensive linemen and wide receivers, and had the league's worst pass rush with no significant acquisitions upfront defensively.
There is so much uncertainty about who will be on the team next season that Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said that they can't plan much yet. "We have to wait a little bit," Eberflus said. "Certainly, [the personnel] is going to adjust through the offseason."
Moreover, there is no solid core yet, and the Bears are still building it. Therefore, keeping Eberflus at the center of the project is crucial.
