Episode Details

The Chicago Bears may be done drafting, but Ryan Poles might not be done building 👀🐻⬇️

After selecting Dillon Thieneman in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and pairing him with free-agent addition Coby Bryant, the Bears are clearly reshaping the secondary around speed, coverage versatility, and tackling. Ryan Poles explained why that matters, especially when trying to eliminate mismatches and help the defense cover longer while pressure gets home.

But the draft fallout does not stop there.

The Bears’ selections of Sam Roush and Keyshaun Elliott could put veterans like Cole Kmet and Jack Sanborn on notice. Roush gives Ben Johnson another physical tight end option behind Colston Loveland, while Elliott brings linebacker depth and developmental upside.

Plus, after not drafting an edge rusher, Chicago could still look at veteran free agents like Joey Bosa, Haason Reddick, Cameron Jordan, Jadeveon Clowney, Calais Campbell, AJ Epenesa, and DJ Reader to add defensive line help.

Haize breaks down:

• Ryan Poles’ comments on Dillon Thieneman and Coby Bryant
• Why the Bears wanted more speed, coverage, and tackling
• Whether Cole Kmet or Jack Sanborn could be pushed out
• The best defensive line free agents still available
• What move Chicago should make next

The Bears roster is still taking shape — and the next move could tell us a lot about how aggressive Ryan Poles plans to be.

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