Chicago Bears GM says team is open to making a 2026 NFL Draft Day trade

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The Chicago Bears are heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with flexibility—and they are not hiding it.

After an aggressive roster-building stretch under general manager Ryan Poles, Chicago finds itself in a position where it can react to the board rather than chase it.

That approach could lead to one of the more active draft weekends among playoff-caliber teams, and if Poles’ latest comments are any indication, nothing is off the table once the clock starts ticking.

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Ryan Poles signals the Chicago Bears’ willingness to trade

Speaking about the team’s approach, Poles made it clear that adaptability will define how the Bears operate on draft night.

“I’ve got a ton of confidence things are going to work out just the way we planned them to be,” Poles said. “If things start to shift and move, we’re agile enough to make adjustments if that’s moving up, moving back, we’ll be ready for anything that comes our way.”

That mindset is consistent with how Poles has handled previous drafts. He has rarely forced the issue, instead allowing value to come to him while keeping options open to move up or down depending on how the board unfolds.

With multiple picks early and a roster that does not have a single glaring hole, Chicago is positioned to be reactive rather than desperate. In practical terms, that means the Bears could become a pivot point in the first round.