Chicago Bears

Why doesn't Poles just use a time machine and go steal all the good players in every draft, is he stupid?

He was considered the #2 QB and like #4/5/6 overall prospect. The Bears traded down from #1 to #9 and picked up the potentially top pick this year, 2 additional 2nd rounders, and DJ Moore.

The reality is the Bears wouldn't have taken him even if they kept #1.

I don't. For his faults, I think that was one situation that Poles handled perfectly at the time.

He improved the O Line, brought in a legit #1 receiver to give Fields weapons and improve protection (granted injuries on the o-line killed that for a good portion if the season and there is still work to do, but we've seen the improvement recently as guys are getting healthy).

Then got that future first, which gave him a Fields insurance policy in a draft that most analysts agreed at the time is a better QB prospect draft overall. Looking at the context at the time it was an extremely sound move by him.

Should every team in the NFL get blame for passing on Brady?

I mean hindsight is undefeated. I'm ok with what we did last year, we built up a much better offense and gave Fields one more year. Now when we draft a QB next year he will be in a much better position to succeed; this team has real talent on offense.

We got an amazing haul from the Carolina trade; and given that Young looks awful we may even get more nice stuff next year (IIRC we have their second next year)

Poles said he would have to be "Blown Away" to move off of Fields. We all heard him say it, right? Well, Stroud is now having the greatest rookie year for a QB in history. Not the last 10 years. Not the last 25 years. ALL TIME.

It IS fair to ask why Poles was not blown away -- and to question either what the scouts missed or the process of selecting talent. To NOT do so would be stupid.

I’m fine with not picking a QB, however I think the biggest miss last draft was not picking Jalen Carter.

We talk so much about this sub about setting QBs up for failure, last year people went on endlessly about how Fields had no protection and no weapons. So what did we do with our first? We got a right tackle, a proven great wr, and a few other picks. Now people are saying we should’ve gotten the QB? Drake Maye or whoever we get will be in a much better situation than stroud would’ve been this year here

No but I do blame him for not taking Carter

Did you want Stroud when we were still at 1?

No. Next question

This upcoming QB class, at the time, was supposed to be way better than last years. The thought was give Fields an OL and WR and if there isn't substantial progress, we will have enough draft capital to trade up in the 2024 class to get one of those guys.

Unfortunately those QBs aren't looking as surefire as they were a few months ago, but we also likely won't have to use any capital to move up since the Panthers still suck.

Idk. Stroud was my favourite player coming out, but even I didn't expect him to be good. I don't fault them for what they did, it worked our well for us. And stroud did say publicly he didn't want to come to chicago [to take fields' job].

Houston tried to trade up to 1 to get Young themselves.

20/20 hindsight, I would rather have Patrick Mahomes than Mitch Trubisky.
20/20 hindsight. The Jaguars would rather have Aiden Hutchinson than Trayvon Walker.

You know what would be the WR room right now if we didn't do the DJ trade. Darnell, Cole and EQ.

Then you would be bitching Poles needed to get a WR and OL! CJ is getting killed back there!

I dont think we need to downvote this opinion - I think Poles made a great trade and we got quite the haul.

Its not unfair to ask what he missed in Stroud, whos looking like a sure fire franchise QB - especially considering hes making the QB decision moving forward. I would actually love to hear him explain what he may have missed and what he can do differently in this draft/FA cycle to evaluate QBs better.

No one knows what a QB is going to look like until you put them on the field and have them start against an nfl defense. That goes for Busts and Booms alike.

Let’s say we put CJ stroud in the same QB class as JF. I’m not saying CJ goes last, but I could still see him going after Wilson, Lance and Lawerence and possibly fields.

Also, The Texans have a decent supporting cast and just got a highly respected new coach who seems to know what he is doing.

If we take a QB in the draft they will have a much better to play on than the one last year or this year.

No

No. I still think it was a good process decision. I just can't imagine any QB being successful if you take away Darnell Wright and DJ Moore.

• If the Panthers finish 1 or 2 overall and the Bears get a new QB who tears it up, Poles will look like the smartest GM in the NFL.

While it has not worked out this way, the general wisdom was that Fields flashed enough to keep his job one more year (which he did IMO) and that was primed to take the 3rd year leap with the addition of a true WR1 (which he did not IMO).

I think that Stroud will ultimately end up being the real deal, but I think it is too hasty to crown him after 10 games.

The Bears might not end up with a lot of wins this year, but Poles set up this team to continue its growth. The Bears received a haul back for the Number 1 pick, and could potentially up with the Number 1 overall pick again this year along with a WR1, RT, and young defensive assets that continue to grow. The defense has already improved, and could be 1-2 DL away from being truly formidable.

I would think any good GM or FO evaluates their scouting and ranking processes when passed-on players break out or drafted players bust. But of course the evaluations and corrective actions are only as good as the GM and FO…

Whatever Poles’ system is, I hope he has it dialed in because I don’t think I can take another QB bust.

Edit: I should also add, drafting is hard

No that’s ridiculous…..but Carolina on the other hand 🤔

No. It wasn’t clear Stroud was the #1 and wasn’t taken at #1. I am admittedly surprised by Stroud given he too went to Ohio State is actually playing competent NFL quarterback. Given the litany of failed OSU quarterbacks I think he’s an exception.

No. I’m all for criticizing our FO, but this is a reach

First of all, we were not looking for a qb in that draft and nothing was going to change that. Second of all, no one knew he was going to pan out the way he has been so far

Maybe I’m getting old, but the biggest thing I’ve leaned from being a Bears fan is that the QB is not a save all solution. Go watch breakdowns by Qb School, Tim Jenkins, TTNL, etc. pick one. The Bears issues go far beyond just the qb. We have mistakes every other play. A different qb doesn’t solve our issues. See Tyson Bagent the last four games. Cj stroud looks great, but the mistakes made by the other ten guys on the field don’t get erased just because of his presence.

Cj stroud play is the expectation to a rookie qb season. What he is doing is basically unprecedented. Historically rookie qbs struggle and teams usually only win around 6 wins.

Our goal wasn't a QB. We have Fields going into a decision year on him. Our lead receiver was a WR2 or 3 on any other team. And still, with a roster so devoid of talent, there were bright spots. We needed a proper way to evaluate Fields and coaching.

We got a true WR1. We got significantly better on the Oline. We got picks. This season proved we need a new QB, and we still have the assets acquired that we can more easily slot him right in when picked (unlike the Bryce Young situation in Caroline who doesn't have a WR1 or Oline).

Stroud is lucky enough to fall into a perfect situation and is reaping the benefits of it. If he went to Carolina or Indy, would he be having the same type of success? If the Bears drafted Mahomes, would he be him or another Trubisky?

I don't think many GMs or scouts could have predicted just how good CJ has been so I think it is hard to fault Poles for not picking him. Evaluating QB talent is difficult for plenty of GMs and success and failure tends to look a lot like luck. So hard to criticize Poles too much for not betting on CJ with the pick.

Poles also got a lot of value for the pick in a relatively low risk way. Meanwhile the team was also facing a lot of problems on the roster so addressing more positions was a good strategy. Plus last year Fields was our best player so replacing him seemed like an odd tactic.

No, no one was taking stroud #1

I personally would have picked stroud over Bryce if I was Carolina…. But I certainly wouldn’t have picked a QB if I was the Bears.

If I was poles I’d still have zero regrets trading away the pick.

Nope, fields would perform like that with competent coaching

No

It's extremely difficult to blame the Front Office for not replacing their first round quarterback from Ohio St. who was going into year 3 and coming off of a promising stretch over the back half of the prior season, with another first round quarterback from Ohio St.

Absolutely not. No quarterback was in position to do any good on our team.