Bears GM Ryan Poles boldly bets on Joe Thuney, Grady Jarrett

When Bears general manager Ryan Poles acquires a player in a high-profile transaction, you often have to look at the other end of the deal: Why was Mike Tomlin giving up on Chase Claypool? Why was Mike Vrabel letting Nate Davis go in free agency? What did they know that the Bears did not?

As it turned out, both players had baggage that short-circuited their Bears’ careers. Claypool played just 10 games for the Bears and was effectively suspended three games into the 2023 season before being traded to the Dolphins. Davis, signed to a three-year, $30 million contract in 2023, played 16 games (13 starts) in two seasons before being released last season after a typically bizarre late scratch against the Patriots.

Claypool, acquired from the Steelers for a second-round draft pick at the trade deadline in 2023, at least was arguably a necessary roll of the dice for Poles, who was being criticized for setting up Justin Fields to fail with a subpar core of weapons. But Davis’ reputation as a player who wasn’t committed to the game was already established when he signed with the Bears.

So while it sure seems like Poles has been smarter and more aggressive in acquiring proven talent in free agency this year, it’s also fair to wonder why productive, Pro Bowl-caliber players such as guard Joe Thuney and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett were available.

With Thuney and Jarrett, it’s not baggage that Poles has to worry about. On the contrary, both players are solid citizens with a history of being great teammates who already upgrade the coveted locker-room “culture” that every team cherishes.

But there’s the rub. Thuney and Jarrett were the type of players even salary cap-crunched teams would want to keep if they could. After Patrick Mahomes was harassed into an atypical big-game performance in the Super Bowl, the last thing the Chiefs need is to weaken their offensive line.

Thuney is at the top of his game. He was a first-team All-Pro for the second consecutive year and was voted the Chiefs’ Most Valuable Player. Thuney even received votes for Offensive Player of the Year — three more than Mahomes, in fact.

But at 32 on the last year of his contract at $16 million for 2025, the Chiefs decided they couldn’t afford him. Was he miffed the Chiefs gave up on him? He wouldn’t bite.

“Those are certain things that I can’t control,” Thuney said. “It’s a business. I’m aware of that and I just try to stay in my lane and control what I can control and make the best of what happens. I think it’s a great opportunity [with the Bears].”

Do the Chiefs know something the Bears don’t? On the contrary, the opposite might be the case. Knowing he couldn’t afford to keep Thuney, maybe Chiefs GM provided Poles — his former director of personnel — a much needed boost to help him off the hot seat. With Thuney on the final year of his contract, now it’s up to Poles to determine how much gas he has left in the tank.

Jarrett might be a little trickier. A 10-year veteran with the Falcons, Jarrett not only was a productive player in 2024 coming off a torn ACL the previous season, but also a revered player in the locker room and the front office.

“You can’t put a value on what Grady does,” coach Raheem Morris said at the combine. “Those are the leaders in our program that bring out the best version of us.”

You don’t usually let those guys go. But Jarrett turns 32 on April 28 and — unable to come to an agreement on a restructured contract — the Falcons released him. The Bears quickly signed him to a three-year $45 million contract. Is it the Falcons’ mistake? Or the Bears? That’s why Poles gets paid the big bucks.