Everybody would assume Ryan Poles is safe since he drafted Caleb Williams. He deserves a chance to build around his quarterback. Except history shows that isn’t how things work, especially in Chicago. Ryan Pace drafted Justin Fields in 2021. That didn’t stop the Bears from firing him anyway. Picking a good quarterback is not enough to justify keeping a GM in charge. Or at least it shouldn’t be. General managers must know how to construct an entire roster, especially in regards to maximizing the young quarterback.
In that regard, Poles has been a failure. He kept Matt Eberflus despite significant concerns about his ability to develop a quarterback with his defensive background. However, that isn’t the most damning evidence against Poles. It is his mystifying inability to stabilize the offensive line. Williams has now been sacked 56 times this season, which is now the most in franchise history. There are still four games left. At this current Pace, Williams will be sacked 73 times, which would be the second-most in NFL history behind only David Carr’s 76 in 2002.
There is no other explanation for this debacle than a failure by the GM. Since arriving in 2022, Poles has invested just one high draft choice in the offensive line. That was 1st round pick Darnell Wright last year. He’s been very good. Braxton Jones was a 5th round pick. He has clear weaknesses in his game. Teven Jenkins was a holdover from the previous regime and has ongoing health issues. Coleman Shelton is a cheap free agent addition. Ryan Bates, their big trade acquisition from Buffalo, has missed most of the season with injuries. Last but not least, you have Nate Davis, a pricey free agent last year who barely practiced, couldn’t stay healthy, and was cut before the end of his second season with the team.
It’s mind-boggling. Since Poles took over, he has held and utilized seven picks in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. Only one of them went to the offensive line. This doesn’t include his recent selection of Kiran Amegadjie in the 3rd round, who hasn’t been much of a factor. All of this begs the question. Why should the Bears trust Poles to fix the offensive line since he’s failed to do so for three years? Caleb Williams needs as much help as humanly possible. If this GM isn’t willing to utilize the resources necessary to make it happen, the Bears must find someone who will.
A source told SM recently that Poles admitted behind closed doors that the offensive line is his biggest regret. He should’ve invested more in it. Now, there is a realistic possibility that failure will cost him his job.
