We have reached the week of the NFL Draft. As draft night can be pretty unpredictable, it’s useful for teams to have multiple plans when they’re on the clock. Regarding the Bears, it’s safe to say that GM Ryan Poles has several contingency plans if the draft does or doesn’t shift in his favor. One of those plans, or maybe more, consists of Poles trading back once again from number nine. When draft night comes, seeing what Ryan Poles has up his sleeve will be attractive.
Ryan Poles already made one blockbuster trade. Can he make another one? Poles struck a deal with the Carolina Panthers earlier in the offseason, giving the Bears the number nine pick, a couple of draft picks, and WR D.J. Moore. If Poles doesn’t like any players at number nine overall, don’t be surprised to see him trade back once more to accumulate more draft picks and another key player to help bolster the roster.
There are several options for the Bears to trade back. An ideal situation will be if one of the top quarterback prospects is still available. In that situation, it wouldn’t be hard for Poles to find a team desperate enough to trade up with the Bears. Again, this is just one situation out of infinite possibilities. But, it is worth noting that the Bears, despite moving down to pick number nine, are still in a prime position to trade back and earn more draft capital.
When should the Bears trade down, though? The team’s most significant needs are OL, CB, and DL. Poles may consider trading back if one of the top prospects at those positions isn’t available. Many fans have criticized Poles for being too calm in previous offseasons. On draft night, he can make a statement to the fans, the media, and the organization. Trading back could cause some backlash, but not if the Bears acquire more picks, plus a very talented rookie. Ryan Poles has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but fans are hopeful he can pull off another “Poles Bomb.”
