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Bears GM Ryan Poles certainly made use of the unlimited waiver-wire claims element as he continues to retool the roster. Poles added players at positions of need, and they were the kind of moves that will either have an immediate impact (like Armon Watts) or those that factor into the long-term plans of the team (like Alex Leatherwood and Ihmir Smith-Marsette) .
Poles added a couple of veterans in Watts and tight end Trevon Wesco, but he’s also taking a swing on some young talent panning out with the addition of Leatherwood, Smith-Marsette and three undrafted rookies in Josh Blackwell, Kingsley Jonathan and Sterling Weatherford, who flashed this preseason.
My favorite additions were their most-talked about in Leatherwood, Watts and Smith-Marsette, and it speaks to Poles’ eye for talent. While Leatherwood flamed out quickly with the Raiders, there’s a reason he was a dominant force at Alabama. Now, Poles is banking on this coaching staff to get the most out of him. It certainly helps that he still has three years left on his rookie deal (with a fifth-year option).
Watts was one of the most shocking cuts, but it also made sense given Minnesota’s scheme change. Poles found a dominant 4-3 nose tackle who could serve as an immediate contributor on this defense alongside Justin Jones. Smith-Marsette, entering his second season, is another young wideout who could develop into a contributor down the line. He possesses 4.43 speed and is a threat in the vertical passing game. He’s also someone who gets plenty of yards after the catch, and his upside made him an obvious choice to claim for a Bears team looking to add weapons around Justin Fields.
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