The Chicago Bears have drawn mixed reviews this offseason. On the one hand, they landed a true steal in Dillon Thieneman, and they did a solid job of revamping their defensive backfield after so many departures.
On the other hand, they haven't done much -- if anything -- to fix their pass-rushing woes. Their front seven left plenty to be desired last season, and they may not have the talent to do much better in 2026.
That's why watching the Los Angeles Rams steal Myles Garrett might've been a gut punch to Bears fans. Not only did the team that beat them in the playoffs get better, but it also revealed an uncomfortable truth about the Ryan Poles regime.
The Bears refused to go all-in for Myles Garrett
The Rams got Garrett for Jared Verse, a first-round selection in 2027, a 2028 second-rounder, and a 2029 third-round pick. That's a great haul, and one that the Bears could've matched or topped if they had been truly all-in on this move.
Poles has done a great job of restructuring the roster, and he deserves plenty of credit for turning this franchise around. That said, he's refused to acknowledge this team's most glaring hole. He could've been in on this move.
The Bears have to prove that they weren't a fluke and just a one-year wonder, and trading for Garrett would've sent the right message. They must maximize their Super Bowl window, and this isn't even the first time they've failed to get in on a superstar's sweepstakes.
For months, fans and analysts have urged the Bears to sell the farm to get Maxx Crosby in the Windy City, but to no avail. If the front office were truly convinced about this team's Super Bowl chances, they wouldn't have hesitated to pull the trigger.
Of course, this doesn't mean they're not committed to Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson or that they won't make a big splash at one point. However, this just feels like a disservice after winning the NFC North and falling just short of a trip to the NFC Championship Game.
The Rams are proving to the entire league what a team that's eager to go the extra mile should do to get over the hump. That should raise the bar for all front offices and prompt uncomfortable conversations across fan bases across the league.
Ryan Poles has definitely earned the benefit of the doubt for what he's done so far. Still, this is a ruthless and ungrateful business, and it's never about what you did in the past; it's about what you can do in the future and whether you can get deals done.
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