Category: 2023 season

Bears GM Ryan Poles says his job is to build for the future

Bears GM Ryan Poles on trading Robert Quinn: “My job is to do what’s best for this organization not only now, but in the future.”

Bears general manager Ryan Poles made it clear from the start that he’s building for the future. Unfortunately, that’s included parting ways with expensive, aging veterans, who have been mainstays on the roster.

Defensive end Robert Quinn is the latest to exit Chicago after the Bears traded him to the Eagles on Wednesday. Chicago received a fourth-round pick in exchange for Quinn, which gives the Bears seven draft picks heading into the 2023 NFL draft.

Poles said it was extremely difficult to make the trade.

“These decisions, they’re really, really tough because it’s not a transaction, it’s deeper than that,” Poles said, via NBC Sports Chicago.

“There’s the emotional side, the human part of it that you know you’re affecting not only a man but his family. You’re kind of shaking that all up and I don’t take that lightly at all and I’m sensitive to that.”

On top of that, Poles said it was difficult to mess with the locker room culture in trading a defensive leader like Quinn. But he also understands that his job isn’t to just worry about the team right now. It’s about the future.

“I value – I think I’ve talked about that a lot – the locker room and what it means and the culture and it sucks to mess with that, to be completely honest with you,” Poles said. “But again, my job is to do what’s best for this organization not only now, but in the future. I felt like that was the best move for us to make.”

With the Bears coming off a dominating 33-14 victory over the Patriots, Poles understands trading a captain in Quinn could have a negative impact on the locker room. But, when considering the future, it felt like an obvious move.

“That’s really where you have to compartmentalize those two different areas,” Poles said. “You know, for the future I think it’s going to give us the ability to continue to grow and build our foundation that we’re trying to build. That is the exciting part.”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbve7kb6he6scwe player_id=none image=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=520595]

[listicle id=520542]

Updated look at Bears’ 2023 draft picks after Robert Quinn trade

The Bears now has seven draft picks in the 2023 NFL draft. Here’s an updated look at Chicago’s picks by round:

The Chicago Bears have traded star pass rusher Robert Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles, which doesn’t come as a surprise give Chicago is in the middle of a rebuild.

The Bears received a 2023 fourth-round draft selection, and general manager Ryan Poles continues to stock draft capital as he builds for the future. Chicago now has seven draft selections in the 2023 NFL draft, including four in the first four rounds.

Here’s an updated look at the Bears’ 2023 draft picks (exact picks TBD):

  • First-round pick
  • Second-round pick
  • Third-round pick
  • Fourth-round pick
  • Fourth-round pick (from Eagles)
  • Fifth-round pick
  • Seventh-round pick

Considering what we’ve seen from Poles in such a short time, there’s reason to believe there will be more picks added to that list between now and the 2023 NFL draft.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbve7kb6he6scwe player_id=none image=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=520542]

How the Bears trading Robert Quinn impacts the salary cap in 2023

The Bears are trading Robert Quinn to the Eagles. Here’s how it impacts the salary cap in 2023:

The Chicago Bears made a splash trading star pass rusher Robert Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2023 fourth-round pick.

It’s not a surprise with the Bears in the middle of a rebuild as general manager Ryan Poles continues to retool the roster while acquiring additional draft capital.

But one of the benefits of the Quinn trade is the impact it has on the salary cap in 2023, where Chicago already had north of $100 million in cap space before the move.

While the Bears will take on most of Quinn’s remaining salary, which is around $7.9 million, the trade frees up $18.2 million in additional cap space in 2023, per OverTheCap.

For those keeping track at home, the Bears will have $134 million in salary cap space heading into the 2023 offseason, which gives Poles plenty to work with as he looks to address areas of need.

Chicago could’ve opted to cut Quinn after this season, which would’ve freed up $10 million in cap space. Instead, the Bears free up an additional $8 million while also acquiring a fourth-round pick in the trade with the Eagles.

As for the impact on the salary cap for the remainder of the 2022 season, Chicago cleared up $12.9 million in cap space with a $4.2 million dead cap hit.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbve7kb6he6scwe player_id=none image=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=520542]

Where the Bears are currently slated to pick in the 1st round of 2023 NFL draft

Here’s where the Bears would pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft if the season ended today.

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 2-4 through the first six games of the 2022 NFL season, where it’s been an ugly start to the Ryan Poles/Matt Eberflus era. But that was to be expected.

While there are still 11 games to be played, it’s hard not to look ahead to the 2023 offseason. That includes the NFL draft, where Chicago is expected to have a top-10 draft pick.

If the season were to end right now, the Bears would hold the 11th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Chicago’s loss to the Commanders puts them just outside the top 10 with Washington right behind at 12th overall.

Here’s a look at the current draft order, courtesy of Tankathon:

  1. Carolina Panthers (1-5)
  2. Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)
  3. Detroit Lions (1-4)
  4. Houston Texans (1-3-1)
  5. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints) (2-4)
  6. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns) (2-4)
  7. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos) (2-3)
  8. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)
  9. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
  10. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4)
  11. Chicago Bears (2-4)
  12. Washington Commanders (2-4)
  13. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
  14. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
  15. Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)
  16. New England Patriots (3-3)
  17. Forfeited pick (via Miami Dolphins) (3-3)
  18. Green Bay Packers (3-3)
  19. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco 49ers) (3-3)
  20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)
  21. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
  22. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams) (3-3)
  23. Indianapolis Colts (3-2-1)
  24. Tennessee Titans (3-2)
  25. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)
  26. New York Jets (4-2)
  27. Dallas Cowboys (4-2)
  28. New York Giants (5-1)
  29. Kansas City Chiefs (4-2)
  30. Minnesota Vikings (5-1)
  31. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
  32. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0)

[pickup_prop id=”28937″]

[listicle id=519720]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbve7kb6he6scwe player_id=none image=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Bears target pressing offensive needs in 2-round 2023 mock draft

In Draft Wire’s latest 2023 mock draft, the Bears select an offensive tackle and receiver to help Justin Fields.

We’re just four games into the 2022 NFL season, but it’s hard for Chicago Bears fans not to look to the future. Especially with a boatload of salary cap space and plenty of pressing needs for GM Ryan Poles to address in 2023.

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling unveiled his latest two-round 2023 mock draft, where he has Chicago addressing two glaring needs on offense with the offensive line and wide receiver.

With the ninth overall pick, Easterling has the Bears selecting Maryland offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan, who would be an upgrade at left tackle.

The Bears are wasting their franchise quarterback in Justin Fields, and next offseason simply has to be spent giving him as many resources as possible. That starts up front, where Fields desperately needs an upgrade at pretty much every offensive line spot. Duncan has all the traits to become a franchise left tackle, and would be an immediate upgrade.

Poles drafted four offensive lineman last spring, including left tackle Braxton Jones. While there’s still plenty of football left to see if Jones can develop into a piece along this offensive line, you know the trenches are going to be an area of focus for Poles this offseason.

With the 40th pick in the second round, Easterling has Chicago landing a receiver in SMU’s Rashee Rice, who’s emerging as an explosive playmaker ahead of the draft.

Last season, Rice had a career year with 64 catches for 670 yards and nine touchdowns. Now, he’s the top option at SMU, and he already has 46 catches for 687 yards and four touchdowns through the first five games this season.

Darnell Mooney is the only consistent receiver on Chicago’s roster, so you know Poles will be looking to add some top wideout talent this offseason, be it in free agency and/or the NFL draft.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbve7kb6he6scwe player_id=none image=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]