Ryan Poles' heist in deal with Panthers complete, but with work to be done

The haul the Bears received for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is literally an embarrassment of riches for general manager Ryan Poles. 

Normally pretty expansive on almost any subject at his press conferences, Poles was noticeably curt and sheepish when asked about the return on that deal, now that it was complete with the drafting of Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second round Friday. 

“Yeah. I think pretty good,” Poles said, haltingly. “Yeah. I think it’s worked out for us.” 

It was kind of odd that Poles was shorter and seemed more uncomfortable with a question about his greatest success than with questions about his biggest failures — trading for Chase Claypool, drafting Velus Jones, signing Nate Davis. Or the touchy subject of passing on Jalen Carter. 

He had a Clincher lobbed right into his wheelhouse and took the pitch. You can only assume he just didn’t want to gloat about a deal that — at this point — ranks among the most lopsided in NFL history. And it’s too bad he couldn’t find some kind of middle ground, because without that deal, Poles might not have been standing at the lectern in the media room at Halas Hall.

In exchange for the No. 1 overall pick the Panthers used to take quarterback Bryce Young, the Bears received:

• Wide receiver DJ Moore.

• Quarterback Caleb Williams (No. 1 overall in 2024).

• Offensive tackle Darnell Wright (No. 10 overall in 2023).

• Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (No. 56 in the second round in 2023 after trading No. 136 to the Jaguars to move up five spots).

• —Punter Tory Taylor (No. 122 in the fourth round, a pick acquired from the Eagles to move from No. 9 to No. 10 overall in 2023). 

• Wide receiver Luther Burden (No. 39 in the second round Friday). 

Poles could have easily finessed it by acknowledging the win but also noting that while the deal is completed, the final results are not yet in. Only Moore is a finished product — he had 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023; 98 receptions for 966 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. 

The others all have the arrow pointing up with Pro Bowl or All-Pro potential, but aren’t there yet. 

Williams looked the part of a developing future star, but it’s not an automatic. He passed for 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns with six interceptions as a rookie for an 87.8 passer rating — 20th among quarterbacks who started eight or more games last season. He also was sacked a league-high 68 times. He needs Ben Johnson even more than Ben Johnson needs him. 

Wright is the most established of the drafted players, with two solid seasons as a starter. But he has another level to reach, especially as the player who was taken instead of Carter, to fully justify his selection at No. 10.

Stevenson has been an effective, if inconsistent, starter for two seasons — more hit than miss at an often boom-or-bust position. He has the game and the make-up to be a star. But as the Hail Mary episode showed, the edge he plays with will need some honing for him to max out.

Taylor had a solid rookie year — at times looking like the weapon he’s purported to be. But his 47.7 gross average was 14th in the NFL last season. His 41.6 net average was 19th. His 34 kicks inside the 20 tied for fourth, but he also had 89 punts — second most in the NFL. 

Burden obviously has yet to play a game in the NFL. A former five-star recruit, The 6-foot, 206-pound Burden is a superior athlete who excels at run after the catch — which makes him more valuable in well-designed offenses like Ben Johnson’s in Detroit. 

So the return for the No. 1 pick already is a big win for Poles, but with the potential to make it a monumental one — among the most lopsided in sports history. But it’s far from over. Young, in fact, finished strong last season — throwing seven touchdowns passes with no interceptions against the Cardinals (107.5 passer rating), Buccaneers (100.7) and Falcons (123.5). Ryan Poles and his coaching staff still have a lot of work to do to put the finishing touches on that deal.