Did Ryan Poles Reveal the Position Bears Are Targeting at No. 9 Overall?

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has proven to be quite the chess player during his first three offseasons on the job. It’s hard to get a handle on what he’s actually thinking, even though he comes across as a pretty honest guy.

With the Bears holding two picks in the top 10 of the 2024 NFL Draft (No. 1 overall and No. 9 overall), it’s been the mission of many Bears fans to try and uncover what Chicago will do with the second of their two first-rounders.

It’s widely assumed the Chicago Bears will select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick.

Survey the landscape of 2024 mock drafts and the results are far from unanimous. The ninth pick might be used on a wide receiver, an edger rusher, even an offensive tackle. And that’s why any clue Poles offers about the Bears’ plan in Round 1 is worth its weight in gold.

He lobbed a softball-sized nugget to Bears fans in the first episode of 1920 Football Drive on Monday.

Who do you think Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus were talking about here at the combine? #Bears pic.twitter.com/yN5buPZQ99

— Sky Kruse (@KruseSports_) March 11, 2024

Of course, saying he’d take a prospect if he’s on the board when the Bears pick is only half the battle. Figuring out who the prospect is is what really matters.

There’s no way of knowing EXACTLY who Ryan Poles was referring to, but Chicago Bears fans are remarkable. They should never be underestimated. And they delivered on narrowing down the position groups for the player Poles was talking about.

it’s edge, thursday 2/29 he was wearing that fit at lunch with jay glazer. He is talking about Dallas Turner.

— DaBearsRealist (@bears_realist) March 11, 2024

Dallas Turner? Laiatu Latu? Jared Verse?

It’ll be a while before we know for sure who Ryan Poles had his eye on, but Bears fans should start doing a deeper dive into the edge rushers. It certainly feels like that’s where the Chicago is headed at No. 9.