Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles was a popular figure at the scouting combine in Indianapolis in late February, thanks to owning the No.
1 draft pick and the most salary cap space in the NFL. He was so popular, in fact, he had to change hotels. «With the first overall pick, everyone wants to talk,» Poles told ESPN recently. «Everyone wants to try to get an idea of what we're trying to do. »With having a ton of money, every agent wants to talk to you, and there's only so much time in the day.
So I thought, for clarity, just kind of move away a little bit. The lobby's empty at the Hyatt, so it just allowed us to be efficient, to have good meetings with different teams." Whether the setting made any difference is debatable, but the fact is Poles and Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer started to lay the groundwork for a blockbuster trade that sent the No.
1 pick to Carolina for a package of draft picks and receiver DJ Moore. Ranks: Kiper | McShay | PositionalMocks: Kiper | McShay | Miller | Reid • Biggest needs » | Riddick's favorites » • QB Hot Board » | First-round grades » • Scouting reports » | Order » | More » Now Fitterer is the one with the first pick when the draft begins on April 27.