This is the Ryan Poles' plan!
Just 2 weeks after a blockbuster trade that sent All-Pro pass rusher Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Bears' plan for the future is slowly becoming clearer.
While the Bears have the 8th «easiest» strength of schedule in the upcoming 2022-2023 season, per Sports Illustrated, it appears as if General Manager Ryan Poles is planning on saving resources for the 2023-2024 season. Entering the next offseason, the Bears will have roughly $128.5 million in cap space, opening the doors for upgrading the roster by going after the top free agents available.
Notable Set-To-Be Free Agents going into the off-season include:
Lamar Jackson Saquon BarkleyDeAndre HopkinsQuenton NelsonBrandin CooksTerry McLaurinKareem Hunt
While the Bears lost a key defensive piece in Mack for what seemed like just «scraps» to many, the value of the trade is in the Chargers soaking up the rest of Mack's contract. Look for Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus to be making bigger moves after this upcoming season due to the freed-up cap space.
While we can focus ahead, it's important to be present as well. Where will Ryan Poles go from here? It can seem somewhat unclear at times, however, it appears his plan for the 2022 season is adding depth and plugging holes. Darnell Mooney is currently the number 1 receiver on the roster. With the Bears now holding two 2nd round picks, I expect Poles to select at the very least two receivers in the draft. If the stars align, watch out for the possibility of a WR Chris Olave reunion with Justin Fields. The two played together at Ohio State, and a reunion could bring instant synergy between the two, potentially matching up to the Jamarr Chase-Joe Burrow connection in Cincinnati, where the two played together at LSU. With veteran receivers like Jarvis Landry and Julio Jones still on the market, the Bears could also make a move during and or after the draft, depending on what happens.
Article written by Alex Abrams
| POLL | ||
1 AVRIL | 163 ANSWERS This is the Ryan Poles' plan! Is Ryan Poles doing the right thing so far in the off-season? | ||
| Yes | 133 | 81.6 % |
| No | 30 | 18.4 % |
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