Bears GM called upon unlikely hero in blockbuster trade with Panthers
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles pulled plenty of strings in order to pull off a blockbuster deal with the Carolina Panthers involving the No. 1 overall draft pick. In his second offseason on the job, Poles made a trade which sent shockwaves throughout the NFL. In parting with the first overall pick in the […]
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles pulled plenty of strings in order to pull off a blockbuster deal with the Carolina Panthers involving the No. 1 overall draft pick.
In his second offseason on the job, Poles made a trade which sent shockwaves throughout the NFL. In parting with the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Chicago landed a haul in draft capital along with rising star WR D.J. Moore.
Bears Received
- No. 9 Overall Pick in 2023
- 2023 Second-Round Pick (No. 61)
- 2024 First-Round Pick
- 2025 Second-Round Pick
- WR D.J. Moore
The Bears were able to come out of the deal as big winners, but the work that went into a trade of that magnitude cannot be understated.
Not only did Poles utilize his analytics department, but The Athletic reports that the Bears general manager also enlisted the help of Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson.
Trades featuring a combination of players and draft picks are more common in the NHL compared to the NFL. Davidson, who is in his third season with the Blackhawks, has plenty of experience making these types of deals.
“Really, hockey is the only one where you’re trading a combination of picks and players,” Poles said on his decision to consult Davidson. “So I just was curious.”
Davidson’s response according to Poles: “It’s a challenge.”
Though the Bears ended up acquiring Moore, Poles was kicking the tires on Panthers DE Brian Burns and DT Derrick Brown.
“I had our guys working through different players,” Poles explained. “Just to kind of see where we’re at.”
Poles inherited quite a mess last March when he was hired by Chicago. But since taking over, he has been fearless and open-minded about ways to improve the team’s roster.
Poles decision to reach out to Davidson is as unique as it is special. It speaks volumes about both general managers, but also about the closeness of professional sports teams in the Windy City.
Though Poles is going to be the one taking the credit for one of the most interesting trades in Chicago sports history, perhaps Davidson should receive a hockey assist for the part he played in the deal.
