One of the vital keys to team-building in the NFL is being able to find quality talent in low places. Anybody can score hits in unrestricted free agency and the high rounds of the draft. Their ability to scout and secure unheralded players, specifically undrafted free agents, separates the good teams from everybody else. GM Ryan Poles expanded his scouting structure to include analytics and more eyes to help the Bears pinpoint possible contributors who could be overlooked. It didn’t take long for Chicago Bears fans to realize the guy might be good at this.
It started in 2022 with Jack Sanborn, Josh Blackwell, and Jaylon Jones. All three became quality players on both defense and special teams. Last season, it was scoring quarterback Tyson Bagent who won a pair of starts for the team after Justin Fields got injured. After two preseason games, it looks like Poles may have done it again. Not one but two undrafted rookies played a pivotal role in closing out a blowout win against Buffalo. It started with cornerback Reddy Steward.
He had a strong tackle for a loss last week against Houston. This time, he charged the line of scrimmage, threw off a blocker, and tackled the Bills’ running back short of the sticks to force a turnover on downs. That is something linebackers do. Keep in mind Steward is only 178 lbs. That makes the tackle all the more impressive since the running back, Frank Gore Jr., outweighs him by almost 20 lbs.
That play helped set the stage for the other undrafted rookie to shine. Thanks to a somewhat crowded running back room, Ian Wheeler hasn’t gotten much media attention. This may have been a mistake, as he demonstrated vision, acceleration, and power over the final six minutes with two touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
Wheeler is a strange case. He made his name in college at Howard as more of a kick return specialist, never getting more than 65 carries in a season at running back. His coaches probably should’ve explored that more based on this small sample size. Either way, this sequence of plays suggests Ryan Poles may have done it again. Both players have positioned themselves to make the final roster, and this isn’t counting the other rookies who have also shined. This Bears team looks better by the day.
