Ryan Poles

Around averageCVI

C-

Below averageSentiment

B+

Top 20%Fan Verdict

Fan Verdict

Grade this GM::

Should Ryan Poles be kept, fired, or extended?

Transactions

Graded

Fan Votes

4 years

Tenure

League Comparison

#27

Sentiment Rank

of 32 GMs

Fan Verdict Rank

of 5 GMs

#19

Most Active

33 moves

Contract Value

Fair market contracts

OverpayFair ValueGreat Value

Chicago Bears' contract spending this season has been roughly in line with what the market dictates — no major steals, but no egregious overpays either. Across 28 contracts, 10 grade out as good value and 12 look like overpays based on comparable deals around the league. The best bang-for-the-buck deal was Devin Bush (A-) at $8.9M/yr — getting linebacker production well above the price point. The priciest commitment relative to production was Jedrick Wills (D-) at $1.2M/yr — the offensive tackle market may have been richer than the on-field return suggests. The spending approach is neither aggressive nor conservative — a wait-and-see approach from a cap perspective.

Public Sentiment

C-

Mixed reception

NegativeMixedPositive

The Chicago Bears have had mixed results under Ryan Poles this 2026 cycle, with both praised and questioned decisions. Of 33 graded moves, 17 landed well with the fanbase, 3 drew mixed reactions, and 13 were viewed negatively. The standout move was bringing in Garrett Bradbury (A+), which generated the most positive buzz. The most questioned decision was the Richardson signing (F), which drew the sharpest criticism. The fanbase remains split — some moves look promising while others need time to prove their worth.