Ryan Poles’ evaluation, intuition on the clock in search for Bears QB

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions for a 100.8 passer rating as the Texans improved form 3-13-1 to 10-7 and a playoff berth this season. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bears general manager Ryan Poles said he’d have to be “blown away” by the top quarterback prospect in the draft — with Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud at the top of that list — to take a quarterback and trade starter Justin Fields. 

But he never really gave himself a true chance to be blown away. Poles traded the No. 1 pick to the Panthers on March 10 — after the scouting combine but before the top quarterbacks’ pro day workouts and before he could bring any quarterback in for a “top 30” visit — one of 30 players NFL teams are allowed to bring to their facility for in-depth interviews.