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Since taking over as general manager of the Chicago Bears in 2022, Ryan Poles has been tasked with reshaping a franchise that had struggled in recent years to put together a competitive roster. As a former offensive lineman and a first-time GM, Poles inherited a team with clear weaknesses across multiple positions, including wide receiver, defensive line, and offensive line. With the team entering a rebuilding phase, he made moves during his first two offseasons that were designed to either fill immediate gaps or pave the way for future success.

While Poles’ tenure is still young, his free agency decisions have already been the subject of scrutiny. Some of his signings have paid off, while others have been seen as costly mistakes that could hurt the Bears in the long run. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the worst free agency moves made by Ryan Poles, ranking them from concerning to disastrous.

### 1. **Nate Davis (OG)**

**Contract:** 3 years, $30 million
**Signed:** 2023

One of Ryan Poles’ more questionable moves came when he signed offensive guard Nate Davis to a three-year, $30 million contract in 2023. While Davis had been a solid starter for the Tennessee Titans, his fit in Chicago’s offensive system quickly raised red flags.

Davis struggled with consistency in his first season with the Bears, often being overpowered by opposing defensive linemen, and his struggles were particularly noticeable in pass protection. The Bears’ offensive line as a whole took a major step backward in 2023, and Davis was one of the contributors to this problem. Given that the Bears were looking to build around quarterback Justin Fields, solidifying the offensive line should have been a top priority. Unfortunately, this signing failed to live up to expectations and left many questioning Poles’ judgment in committing significant resources to a player who didn’t seem to add the value they needed.

What made this move worse was the fact that there were still quality interior offensive linemen available who could have potentially offered better production and immediate impact. The Bears had a clear need for a reliable offensive line, but with Davis, they took a risk that didn’t pay off, especially given the amount of money and years committed.

### 2. **DeMarcus Walker (DE)**

**Contract:** 3 years, $21 million
**Signed:** 2023

In 2023, Ryan Poles signed DeMarcus Walker to a three-year, $21 million deal, hoping to add depth and talent to the Bears’ pass-rushing unit. While Walker had a decent season with the Tennessee Titans the previous year, he was hardly a proven game-changer. The Bears’ defense, which had struggled for years in the trenches, needed a big splash on the defensive line, and Walker was seen as a potential piece to help fill that void.

However, Walker’s production in Chicago failed to meet expectations. While he was able to contribute some pressure, particularly in the form of sacks, his overall impact on the defensive front was underwhelming. He was unable to consistently disrupt quarterbacks or set the edge against the run, making his acquisition feel like a missed opportunity for a team in desperate need of a top-tier pass rusher.

The Bears’ defensive line, which was expected to be a focal point of improvement, continued to struggle after the signing of Walker. His failure to provide a consistent pass-rush presence meant that the Bears were still left with a less-than-ideal defensive line that couldn’t put enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Poles’ decision to allocate such a significant portion of the team’s cap space to a player who was, at best, a rotational piece at this stage of his career proved to be a disappointment.

### 3. **Al-Quadin Muhammad (OLB)**

**Contract:** 2 years, $8 million
**Signed:** 2022

In Poles’ first offseason as GM, one of his most criticized signings came in the form of linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad. The Bears inked Muhammad to a two-year, $8 million contract, hoping to add some depth to their pass rush and edge rotation. However, this signing turned out to be an example of the Bears’ inability to properly assess the talent available in free agency.

While Muhammad had an unremarkable stint with the Indianapolis Colts, recording just 2.5 sacks in 2021, the Bears felt he could offer more. Unfortunately, he was largely ineffective for the Bears in 2022, struggling to generate pressure and failing to make an impact in a critical area of the defense. He finished with only 1 sack and was mostly relegated to backup duties before being released after just one season with the team.

In hindsight, this move looks particularly poor because the Bears could have used that money more effectively, investing it in more impactful players to help solidify the defense. Muhammad’s inability to contribute to the pass rush highlighted the Bears’ struggles in building a competitive defense, and it was a move that seemed unnecessary, given the limited return on investment.

### 4. **Terrell Edmunds (S)**

**Contract:** 1 year, $2.5 million
**Signed:** 2023

The signing of Terrell Edmunds in 2023 for just one year and $2.5 million might not seem like a huge financial commitment, but it still raised eyebrows given his inconsistent play in the NFL up to that point. Edmunds, a former first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, was brought in to help stabilize the safety position and provide some experience to a young Bears defense.

While Edmunds didn’t break the bank, his lack of impact in 2023 was glaring. The Bears’ secondary, which was already a weak point, did not improve much with Edmunds in the fold. His coverage was inconsistent, and he struggled to make the plays that a starting safety is expected to. While he was not a total disaster, his inability to significantly elevate the defense as expected made his signing look underwhelming.

With better options available in free agency, the decision to sign Edmunds felt like a missed opportunity. The Bears could have used that money to secure a more impactful safety, or even better, use the funds to improve other positions. Edmunds didn’t offer much more than what the Bears already had, and the need for an upgrade at safety remains.

### 5. **David Montgomery (RB)**

**Contract:** 3 years, $18 million
**Signed:** 2023

This one might be a bit more controversial, as David Montgomery was a productive and reliable running back during his time with the Bears. However, his departure in free agency and subsequent signing with the Detroit Lions left many questioning Ryan Poles’ decision-making in managing the running back position.

The Bears decided to move on from Montgomery in favor of a more dynamic back in Khalil Herbert. While Herbert had shown flashes, Montgomery was known for his toughness, pass protection, and ability to churn out yards between the tackles. Losing Montgomery to a division rival like Detroit—who would use him heavily in their offense—was a tough blow for the Bears. In hindsight, Poles might have overestimated the market for running backs and not prioritized keeping a productive player who had been one of the few consistent pieces in Chicago’s offense.

This decision ultimately proved costly as Montgomery’s value was felt immediately with the Lions, and the Bears’ offense took a step back in the absence of his presence. While Montgomery may not have been a game-changing back, he brought stability to a position that was in constant flux, and the Bears were left with questions about their long-term approach to the running back position.

### Conclusion

Ryan Poles’ tenure as general manager of the Chicago Bears is still in its early stages, and while he’s made some moves that could eventually pan out, there have been several free-agent signings that have raised red flags. From Nate Davis’ struggles on the offensive line to the underwhelming performances of Al-Quadin Muhammad and DeMarcus Walker, the Bears have had their fair share of missteps in free agency. It remains to be seen whether Poles can rebound from these early mistakes, but one thing is certain: the Bears will need to be more cautious in the future when making free-agent acquisitions to build a competitive team.