
Bears News: Ryan Poles signs extension: Now comes the pressure to win |
Given the train wreck of a tenure that Ryan Pace had as the Bears' GM, anything else would be seen as an improvement. Not only has Ryan Poles made significant progress since joining the team, but he also earned a massive five-year extension over the weekend, securing his future in Chicago for the foreseeable future.
Whether you agree with that decision or not is an entirely different topic, but you have to realize why this extension was made. One of the most significant factors in Ben Johnson signing with the Bears this offseason was that he not only wanted the job security, but also wanted to be paired with a GM who was in it for the long haul. Up until this weekend, Poles was entering a contract year and was what you would call a lame duck GM. That is all taken care of as this extension ties him with Johnson for the next five years, and the two of them can start to build this roster the way they see fit. When you look at his tenure as the Bears' GM so far, there has been some success, but also a ton of failures. Although the team has failed to make the playoffs during his tenure, a closer look at the moves made via the draft, free agency, and the trade market reveals a significant improvement in the organization's standing. Sure, hanging on to Justin Fields as long as he did may have been a mistake, but at the very least, it allowed them to draft Caleb Williams, who appears to be the real deal. Poles also traded for Montez Sweat mid-season, DJ Moore, which set up the Williams pick, and has done a phenomenal job adding talent on both sides of the ball, in the past two free agencies. In other words, he has not only rebuilt this organization from the ground up in four years but has also retooled it over the past three offseasons to help set it up for sustained success. The success will be the key for Poles over the next five years, as this team needs to start winning some games if he is to remain here for the duration of his contract. While that may not happen yet, it's coming, and Poles has the right man in place with Johnson to mold this roster into what he wants it to look like. Heading into this season, many experts have the Bears as a borderline playoff team, and if they don't make it, they should still be a team in the hunt until the final week of the season. That alone is not only an improvement, but a step in the right direction, which is all you can ask for from an organization. Now that his extension is locked in and taken care of, what comes next for the Bears' general manager? First and foremost, he would love not only to have their first winning season in over five years, but also their first playoff appearance since Matt Nagy became the coach. That alone could go a long way in restoring the confidence in this fan base that this team is indeed heading in the right direction. Secondly, once the team starts winning and has a taste of success, it becomes a case of building sustained success. Having one year of success isn't going to cut it in this league, and it is what you do with this success that matters. Poles needs to draft right, find the right free agent fits, and most importantly, go all in at the deadline if he feels he has the team to win it all. Should any of those steps fail, this team will remain stuck in neutral for the foreseeable future. Finally, as is the case with every GM, the ultimate goal will be to win the city of Chicago another championship. Getting to the playoffs is the first step in that process, as anything can happen in the playoffs. The same can be said about the regular season, as one injury to Williams or any of their key pieces could eliminate any chances of the Bears achieving their goal. Winning the Super Bowl should be the goal of every GM, and that is no different for Poles. He knows what it takes to be successful and win, having come from Kansas City, and he knows how to build up a roster, which he has already started to do. Now, it is up to him to prove to the fans that his extension is worth the money and the years tied to it, as it is now or never for this current regime.