REPORT: Ryan Poles Immediately Pounces On Two Waiver Claims

Everybody knew the Chicago Bears were going to utilize their premium #1 spot on the waiver wire. It was only a question of how many times. GM Ryan Poles didn’t wait long to strike. In the span of mere minutes, the Bears claimed not one but two players. First was defensive end Khalid Kareem, a former 5th round pick of the Indianapolis Colts. Chicago got a great look at him in joint practices, and he coupled that with an outstanding preseason that saw three sacks, 11 pressures, and four tackles for a loss. The other is Quindell Johnson, a rookie safety from the Los Angeles Rams who also had a productive preseason.

Kareem fits the exact profile the Bears search for in their defensive ends. He’s big (6’4, 270 lbs) and has 34-inch arms. He also has tremendous upper-body strength. This means he can be a factor both off the edge and the interior. Matt Eberflus loves that kind of versatility in his linemen. As for Johnson, he developed a reputation in college for being a ballhawk. His 10 interceptions and four forced fumbles as a safety proved that. It was a surprise he wasn’t drafted. He’s got size and is a solid athlete as well.

If all this weren’t enough, the Bears also signed another veteran, wide receiver Trent Taylor.

Ryan Poles recognized Taylor’s value right away.

While he’s never become a huge factor on offense, the wide receiver is a good punt returner. He had 340 yards last season, averaging over 10 per return. That should give their special teams a little more juice. All told, these three players are quality gets for the Bears. Kareem is a 25-year-old pass rusher who fits the style of defense they play. DeMarcus Walker is a similar type of player. He is somebody perfect to mention the new addition. Johnson couldn’t ask for a better landing spot. The Tampa-2 is all about forcing turnovers, and he’ll have two veteran DB experts, Alan Williams and Jon Hoke, guiding the way.

One has to give credit to Ryan Poles. He identified team needs and managed to fill them without sacrificing money or the team’s youth movement. The bottom of the roster matters as much as the top. Depth was a big problem for the Bears last season. It showed towards the end of the year when injuries started mounting. This time around, they seem far better prepared for that eventuality.