Beyond draft picks, Ryan Poles excels at unearthing hidden gems. Discover the overlooked skill that fuels the Bears' resurgence and provides surprising impact players.
Chicago Bears fans have a lot to thank General Manager Ryan Poles for the 2025 season.
He is to thank for turning around the franchise and bringing them their first NFC North title since 2018 and first playoff appearance since 2020. The Bears won a playoff game for the first time since the 2010 season.
The Bears have upward momentum heading into 2026. Most people may credit Poles for his ability to scout talent in the draft.
Out of the eight players that he selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, four of them found starting roles as rookies.
However, Poles have also proven to have a good eye for talent in another area. Throughout his tenure, Poles has been able to hit on undrafted free agents.
He has a track record of success by bringing in at least one undrafted free agent since 2022.
It started with linebacker Jack Sanborn in 2022. Sanborn obviously isn't with the Bears anymore, but had a productive start to his Bears career.
Sanborn had 64 total tackles, two sacks and five TFLs in his first year with the franchise. He then recorded 65 total tackles, one sack and seven TFLs the following year in 2023.
Sanborn's playing time took a hit in 2024, and he recorded only 35 total tackles, 2 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks. Sanborn is now with the Dallas Cowboys, where he had 34 total tackles and one TFL in six games played in 2025.
So, it definitely sounds like the Bears made a good decision in moving on from him.
Then, he brought in Tyson Bagent in 2023, who has been the Bears' backup quarterback ever since. Bagent is now receiving trade offers, but has been a valuable asset to the team for many years.
In 2024, Poles found Theo Benedet, who filled in at left tackle, a position that is slowly becoming a need for the Bears. The Bears have re-signed Benedet for the 2026 season.
More recently, Poles found receiver Jahdae Walker at Texas A&M. Walker didn't really make any contributions for Chicago until late in the 2025 season. Still, he made the most of his moment.
Walker caught the game-tying touchdown in Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers. He also scored in the 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, getting the Bears on the board in the fourth quarter of that contest.
Of the four undrafted free agents Poles has brought in during his tenure in the Windy City, three are still on the roster and contributing to the team. That's a pretty good success rate for the Bears GM.
It'll be interesting to see who the next undrafted free agent he brings in is, given how successful he's been in doing so in the past.