Spending wisely: Bears, Poles usually fare better when shopping in bargain aisle

The NFL is missing a great opportunity to connect with younger fans.

Instead of free-agent signings slowly trickling out on X, each team's general manager should crouch in front of a camera and dramatically reveal their merch haul.

For Ryan Poles, he could start by pulling a few familiar names out of the bag, those staying at Halas Hall, then build to the Super Bowl champ that is bound to look great in the Bears' defensive backfield.

Here's a quick recap of players the Bears are adding, with price tags, according to multiple reports:

∙ Seattle safety Coby Bryant is clearly not worried about playing in Michael Jordan's shadow, agreeing to a three-year, $40 million deal. Bryant, 26, didn't become a full-time starter until last fall, when he was fifth on the Seahawks in tackles, with 4 interceptions.

∙ Cleveland linebacker Devin Bush for three years, $30 million. Once a No. 10 overall pick in 2019, Bush was considered a disappointment in Pittsburgh after a promising rookie year. Then in his seventh NFL season, he erupted with the best performance of his career with the Browns.

∙ Defensive tackle Neville Gallimore from Indianapolis, two years, $12 million, is an affordable depth piece for the interior.

∙ The Bears re-signed tackle Braxton Jones, quarterback Case Keenum, linebacker D'Marco Jackson, and special teams ace Daniel Hardy to smaller deals.

∙ As of press time, the Bears who committed elsewhere were linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to the Giants, receiver Olamide Zaccheaus to Atlanta and defensive end Dominique Robinson to Houston. That meant safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker are still on the market.

Nothing leaked about the Bears restructuring contracts, which is likely a necessity to pull off this shopping spree, plus more to come. Poles didn't have the line of credit needed to browse the most expensive aisle — but maybe that's a good thing.

Free-agent shopping has not been a strength since Poles stepped into the general manager role in 2022. He's had more success finding solid bargains than spending big.

Check the history. Since 2022, the Bears have added seven free agents with deals above $20 million in total value. By my count, they've gone 2-4-1.

The winners were D'Andre Swift and Drew Dalman. Can't really deduct a grade for Dalman retiring unexpectedly after one season in Chicago. The move itself was well-executed.

Let's call defensive tackle Grady Jarrett an incomplete. He was pretty good in the second half of last season, but will also be 33 by next fall, so too soon to make a final call.

Three of the Bears' most expensive purchases — Edmunds, Nate Davis and DeMarcus Walker — were let go before their contracts ended. And defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo is trending toward a release after next season.

Edmunds, at least, was a solid player, just a poor appropriation of funds. Those four expensive misses, especially Odeyingbo, help explain why Poles was limited to relative bargain-shopping.

At the same time, Poles has been at his best when getting Byard for two years, $15 million in 2024. Or cornerback Nahshon Wright for one year, $1.1 million. Another of his better deals, largely forgotten now, was defensive tackle Justin Jones for two years, $6 million in '22.

If Poles Haul '26 taught us anything, it's that the Bears need to draft a defensive tackle in the first round. The Bears nearly reaching the NFC title game with such limited depth on the defensive line was impressive in itself.

They still need more safeties. Safety and future starting center could be the path in the second and third rounds. An additional receiver, offensive line depth and some zip for the pass rush remain on the wish list.

The stores are still open, though. Maybe there's some free agent unboxing left to do.