The Chicago Bears may have lost in the regular-season finale, but they were one of the biggest winners of Black Monday. That's because, regardless of what happens with assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, the Bears will benefit.
Cunningham has been instrumental in the Ryan Poles era, so it's not like the team would be better off without him. Then again, his potential departure could lead to some solid compensation. As pointed out by Bears insider Erik Lambert of Sports Mockery, the Bears would be entitled to two third-round picks if any other team were to lure Cunningham away.
"That would give them four picks in the first three rounds this year. Could be hugely beneficial to their hopes of retooling the defense," Lambert wrote.
Bears Are Winners No Matter What Happens to Ian Cunningham Next
As things stand now, Cunningham might stay put in Chicago. The Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and New York Giants will all keep their general managers, contrary to initial speculation, giving the former player-turned-executive fewer chances to leave the Windy City.
That being said, the Atlanta Falcons did part ways with GM Terry Fontenot, and Cunningham looks tailor-made for the position. Ex-Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and Poles go a long way back, having played together at Boston College. The Falcons legend will reportedly have a say in the decision, and he's been doing his due diligence on several candidates for weeks, according to a report by NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero.
Given his history with Ryan, it's possible that Poles won't mind Cunningham potentially departing in favor of a familiar face.
Cunningham has been a sought-after commodity around the league for years now. He's been a finalist for a GM position in three consecutive years, and he even got the Arizona Cardinals' job before he ultimately turned it down. He's well-respected as a former player who has also scouted in college and the pros, and he's been instrumental in introducing new processes and technologies to the scouting process in Chicago.
Of course, losing such a vital piece to the organization might be a bit of a blow. That being said, the Bears' roster is already stacked and up-and-coming, and adding a couple of draft selections to keep stacking the bricks and fixing what needs to be is certainly a nice consolation prize. In the meantime, the Bears will focus on finishing the season on a high note and getting past the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, leaving time to tell just how much time Cunningham has left in the Windy City.