Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles. David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Bears GM Ryan Poles reveals approach to No. 1 overall pick

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/10/23

During Tuesday's end-of-season press conference, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles revealed his thoughts on what the team might do if it holds onto the No. 1 overall draft pick in April.

Bears GM Ryan Poles said Justin Fields is the starting QB moving forward, and when asked about the possibility of taking a quarterback No. 1: "I'd have to be absolutely blown away to make that type of decision."
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) January 10, 2023

"I'd have to be absolutely blown away to make that type of decision." -- Ryan Poles on potentially drafting a QB

Just to put a topper on all this. https://t.co/k15nILA8dh
— Josh Schrock (@Schrock_And_Awe) January 10, 2023

During their 86-year history, the Bears have only made the first selection in the draft twice, taking halfback Tom Harmon in 1941 and halfback Bob Fenimore in 1947.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars selected a defensive end (Travon Walker) with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 event, the previous four first overall selections and six of the previous seven have all bee quarterbacks.

After a slow start to his sophomore season, Justin Fields went off over his final seven games of the 2022 campaign from Weeks 9 through 17, recording 10 touchdown passes and five interceptions including a pair of games with quarterback ratings of over 100 (and four over 90). Where Fields did most of his damage was on the ground, as he had a trio of games with at least 130 rushing yards and collected five of his seven rushing touchdowns on the season during that stretch.

In Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins, he set an NFL regular season single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 178. Even with the very rough September -- plus the two games missed with both shoulder and hip injuries -- Fields ended the campaign with 160 carries for 1,143 rushing yards and eight scores, becoming just the third quarterback in league history to run for over 1,000 yards.

Just because Chicago doesn't seem to be in the market for a new man under center doesn't automatically mean it will trade the No. 1 pick. There are plenty of non-quarterback options who could be worthy of the top selection, such as Georgia's two-time national champion defensive lineman, Jalen Carter.

However, the Bears could also move the top pick to a team with quarterback issues, such as the Indianapolis Colts, and acquire additional assets.