The Chicago Bears were quite active ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline, where they dealt two defensive stars in linebacker Roquan Smith and defensive end Robert Quinn.
But it was the acquisition of receiver Chase Claypool, for a 2023 second-round pick, that spoke volumes about the direction general manager Ryan Poles is taking.
The Claypool move showed that Poles is shifting his focus from prioritizing offense over defense, which is something fretting and new for Bears fans. For so long, this organization has prided itself on defense. Not that there’s anything wrong with that — there have been some dominating defenses and Hall of Famers a part of that history.
But in this modern NFL, the focus has shifted to offense, and it seems so has Poles’ priorities.
The addition of Claypool provides quarterback Justin Fields with a playmaker at receiver, during a season where wideouts (not named Darnell Mooney) have been underwhelming.
It also provides Fields and Claypool nine games to develop chemistry before heading into an important 2023 offseason, and it should help open up what’s been a non-existent passing game through the first half of the season.
Poles doesn’t make this move if he doesn’t have belief in Fields as this team’s franchise quarterback, which has certainly been helped by Fields’ impressive outings over the last couple of games.
As the Bears gear up for a Week 9 game against the Dolphins, host Ryan O’Leary (@RyanO_Leary) and myself (@AlyssaBarbieri) discuss Poles’ moves at the trade deadline and preview the matchup against Miami.
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