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NFL
Ryan Poles is on a first-round hot steak
TL;DR
The Chicago Bears have struggled with first-round draft picks for the past 30 years, with many failing to meet expectations. Recent picks, however, show promise for a turnaround.
Key points
- Chicago Bears have a history of poor first-round draft picks
- Notable failures include David Terrell and Kevin White
- Recent draft picks show potential for improvement
Chicago Bears
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 19: Colston Loveland #84 of the Chicago Bears and Darnell Wright #58 of the Chicago Bears look on during the second half against the New Orleans Saints on October 19, 2025 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Too often for the Chicago Bears, over the past 30 years, their first-round draft picks haven’t hit at a high rate.
I’ll even list some to hear the groans come back across the internet.
David Terrell, Kevin White, Cedric Benson, Shea McClellin, Gabe Carimi and Chris Williams, to name a few.
And we won’t even go into the quarterbacks, because I think we all remember the four first-round QBs prior to Caleb Williams.
The first round and the Bears haven’t meshed very well. And that results in a lot of mediocrity on the field, too.
Ryan Poles is entering his fifth draft as the Bears’ GM.
While his tenure has had plenty of head-scratching and disappointing moments, I do think he deserves a little more credit for his drafting.
He’s had the best three-year run of first-round selections since the 1980s.
It’s easily the four best consecutive Bears first-round picks since 1980-1984 (Otis Wilson, Keith Van Horne, Jim McMahon and Jimbo Covert) and the best three-draft run since ‘82-’84 (McMahon, Covert and Wilbur Marshall).
The detractors will be quick to point out that there are no Pro-Bowlers or First Team All-Pros among the Poles’ most recent selections.
However, Darnell Wright, Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland have all been major contributors.
Wright just had his fifth-year option picked up, was a second-team All-Pro and is in line for a contract extension.
Williams finished last season playing at a top-10 quarterback level. He led the Bears to many late-game comebacks and was a huge reason why they won a playoff game and were in the playoffs to begin with.
Odunze might be the least successful of the picks. He still had a strong rookie season and saw his production dip in 2025 due to injuries. But he still looks like an important piece of the offense who will continue to grow and excel.
Loveland had an incredibly strong rookie season, setting some milestones along the way. He is already considered among the best young tight ends in the league.
The four are key pieces for the offense in the Ben Johnson era.
Thursday, Poles will try to make it five straight picks. Will it be a foundational piece for the defense or another cog for the offense?
We’ll find out.
Q&A
What are some of the Chicago Bears' worst first-round draft picks?
Notable poor first-round picks include David Terrell, Kevin White, Cedric Benson, Shea McClellin, Gabe Carimi, and Chris Williams.
How have recent first-round picks performed for the Chicago Bears?
Recent first-round picks have shown potential, suggesting a possible improvement in the team's drafting success.
Why is the performance of first-round draft picks important for the Chicago Bears?
First-round draft picks are crucial for building a competitive team, and their success can significantly impact the Bears' future performance.
