There are no days off in the NFL. Ryan Poles is making that clear. Even as the Chicago Bears prepare for their opening game of the 2024 season, their GM is already back on the scouting trail. Preparations are underway for the 2025 draft, which could be a big one. The Bears have three picks in the first two rounds, offering another opportunity to load up the roster with high-end talent. The obvious question for many is what Poles may focus on now that he’s finally secured his quarterback.
We may not have to do much digging on that. Eagle-eyed onlookers spotted the Bears GM at not one but two college games on Saturday. It started with Georgia vs. Clemson in the early afternoon before moving to another big matchup between Notre Dame and Texas A&M. Now, obviously, he will be watching lots of different positions between those games. However, it doesn’t take rocket science to figure out where his focus will be. Based on projections from draft experts, there are seven who are considered 1st round prospects for next year.
Two of them are edge rushers, and another is an offensive tackle.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. They came into 2024 with question marks about their edge rusher position outside of Montez Sweat. While Austin Booker had a great preseason, it isn’t wise to bank on a 5th round pick to morph into a star. Poles has to operate under the assumption the Bears don’t yet have that second option. Nic Scourton (A&M) exploded for 10 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss last season. Mykel Williams (Georgia) had 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss last season. He began this year with two tackles for a loss.
Blake Miller (Clemson) is the offensive lineman to watch. He’s considered an old-school throwback with his power and nasty disposition. Every snap is an all-out war. He is a solid athlete who has started every game since 2022, so experience is a big plus. That checks a ton of boxes for somebody like Poles. If the Chicago Bears are still uncertain about Braxton Jones, and there have been hints that they are, Miller makes sense. Either way, this is a glaring indication the team will be focused on the line of scrimmage early and often next year.
