The Chicago Bears officially welcomed several new players to the roster on March 13, including safety Kevin Byard (2 years, $15 million), running back D'Andre Swift (3 years, $24 million), tight end Gerald Everett (2 years, $12 million), and safety Jonathan Owens (2 years, $4.5 million).
True to form, Poles addressed some positions of need but did not make a particularly large splash. Byard should be a fine replacement for Eddie Jackson, while Owens provides better depth in the secondary. Swift should be an upgrade at running back and help the passing game, while Everett brings fantastic value as the TE2 behind Kmet.
But Poles is not done building the team. The 2024 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and now that the first wave of free agency is over, we have a clearer idea of where Poles might focus his draft resources.
As of now, the Chicago Bears only have five draft picks, but in his very first draft as General Manager, we saw Poles turn six selections into eleven by making multiple trades down the draft board. That's what I have Poles doing again. The first trade he makes is the one that most expect to happen any day now: I have Justin Fields going to Seattle for a 3rd and 6th-round pick.
Next, Poles trades back from the 9th overall after a run on offensive tackles allows a top quarterback prospect to fall. He trades with the Las Vegas Raiders, moving from nine to 13 and picking up Las Vegas' second-round pick in 2024, plus a 2nd round pick in 2025.
Finally, Poles trades the Raiders' 2024 second-round pick to the Bills for their second-round pick, two fourth-round picks, and a third-round pick in 2025, moving down 16 spots.
Lastly, I want to emphasize that I tried to do this mock through Ryan Poles' eyes. I wouldn't necessarily agree with some of the selections, but this is what I think Ryan Poles could do in the draft, especially if he can pull off these trade scenarios.
With that all explained, let's get to Chicago Bears post-free agency (sort of) mock draft.
1.01 (via CAR) Caleb Williams - USC, Quarterback
An immensely talented and athletically gifted player, Williams would be the top quarterback prospect and the clear first-overall pick in every NFL draft since 2012. From the moment he becomes a Bear, he will be the most talented quarterback prospect they've ever selected. Just check out his scouting report. While many analysts compare him to Patrick Mahomes or Kyler Murray, I actually see more of a young Aaron Rodgers in the way he plays. After decades of torment at the hands of that man and the Green Bay Packers, it would be poetic justice for the Bears to get their own Rodgers.
1.13 (via LV) Chop Robinson - Defensive End, Penn State
I hate to miss out on this year's top receivers, but given the depth at that position in this class, I could see Poles attacking a different position here. I have him going with a pass rusher. I almost selected Jared Verse or Laiatu Latu, and I would prefer those two myself, but I think Latu's medicals will scare Poles away and Verse is a full two years older than Robinson. Given Robinson's youth, electric tape, and dominant NFL Combine performance, I don't see Ryan Poles letting him fall to another team.
2.60 (via LV/BUF) Cooper Beebe - Guard, Kansas State
Staying in the trenches, Poles now works to build up the offensive line for new quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears' starting guards are solid when they're on the field. The problem is that Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis have missed significant time since joining Chicago. Enter Beebe, arguably the best guard in this draft class. He would provide excellent depth at this position and could potentially become a starter should one of Jenkins or Davis be released after the 2024 season.
3.75 Xavier Legette - Receiver, South Carolina
In the third round, Poles finally addresses the wide receiver room. Legette checked in at the NFL Combine at an impressive 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds and showcased the kind of athleticism you usually see from much smaller guys. He ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash and posted a 40-inch vertical leap. Most impressive of all, he scored a 9.92 out of 10 on the RAS scale, 24th best for all wide receivers since 1987. He's got some issues that will need coaching up in the pros, but he has a fantastic ability to catch the ball in traffic and is a legit threat deep downfield.
3.81 (via SEA) Tanor Bortolini - Center, Wisconsin
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Ryan Bates is most likely going to be the starting Center in 2024. If that's true, then Poles probably won't be interested in drafting a center early, but I could definitely see him taking Bortolini late in Day 2 of the draft as a developmental prospect. A relative unknown before the Senior Bowl, Bortolini played 868 snaps at Center in 2023 and allowed just one sack and two QB hits. At the Combine, he registered an incredible 9.97 RAS. This might be a slight reach on Poles' part, but I have a feeling he fell in love with Bortolini's potential and, like Chop, doesn't want to see him go to another team.
4.110 Jaden Hicks - Safety, Washington State
Poles signed two new safeties in free agency, but neither seems likely to move the needle much, and I wouldn't expect Poles to stay out of the secondary market completely for this draft. Hicks seems most like a strong safety, a hard-hitting tackler who could develop along with Jaquan Brisker and provide reliable depth. He posted three interceptions and ten passes defended in two years at Washington State.
4.122 Brenden Rice - Receiver, USC
I love the idea of pairing a rookie quarterback with a receiver he's used to, and I think Poles does, too. Early in Day 3 and still in need of receiver depth, the son of NFL legend Jerry Rice just makes too much sense. Over the last two years, he's caught 84 passes and 16 touchdowns from Caleb Williams, many of them on deep shots down the field. Rice also brings special teams versatility and posted a solid 8.73 RAS at the Combine. He may never be a dominant starting receiver in the NFL, but the connection with Williams may be hard to ignore.
4.128 (via BUF) Mekhi Wingo - Defensive Tackle, LSU
Returning to the trenches, Poles beefs up the interior of the defensive line. While his measurables aren't the best, especially with arm length and weight, Wingo has shown good athleticism and quickness. At the Combine, he ran a 4.85 40-yard dash and scored a respectable 8.21 out of 10 for his RAS. Like Hicks, he would be another developmental project, but if anyone can coach him up to his full potential, it's Eric Washington and Matt Eberflus.
4.144 (via BUF) Zak Zinter - Guard, Michigan
Arguably the best guard in college football heading into the 2023 season, Zinter's draft stock sadly plummeted following a brutal leg injury in November. He had surgery and appears to be well along the path to recovery, but I would still be shocked to see him play in 2024, no matter where he ends up. Still, here on Day 3 of the draft, Zinter makes a fantastic option for the future. Poles could keep him stashed at the bottom of the depth chart or the practice squad until he's ready to play again, at which point the Bears may have need of a starting guard if one of Nate Davis or Teven Jenkins has not been signed to a new contract.
6.192 (via SEA) Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Running Back, Purdue
Tracy languished as a receiver at Iowa for four years until he transferred to Purdue in 2022. In 2023, he converted to running back and had a breakout year, averaging 6.3 yards per carry and scoring eight touchdowns on the ground. He was also a kick returner for Purdue in 2023, returning one 98 yards for a touchdown. He's significantly older than much of his rookie class and has only been a running back for one year, but he showed a lot of potential and brings the added versatility of returning kicks. That could be enough for Poles to take a late-round flyer on Tracy.