For the second time in as many years, Bears general manager Ryan Poles enters the offseason with the No. 1 pick in his back pocket. Last offseason, Poles sold the No. 1 overall pick to the highest bidder in a shakedown of the Panthers that netted the Bears Carolina's No. 1 pick in 2024. Poles also got wide receiver DJ Moore in that trade, a move that undoubtedly had a massive effect on a Panthers team that struggled to score points all season en route to an NFL-worst 2-15 record. In his end-of-season press conference, Poles admitted that the calculus with the No. 1 overall pick is different this season. He felt it was in the best long-term interest of the Bears to trade the pick last year, add assets, and give quarterback Justin Fields another season to develop and prove he's a bonafide franchise quarterback. The fact that the 2023 QB class was also considered subpar helped make Poles' decision easier.
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