Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Host: 312 Sports
Episode: NIL is changing NFL prospect evaluations by NFL, Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears
Date: March 26, 2026
Host (for this episode): Solo, with Dan Bernstein

Episode Overview

This episode tackles a major shift in NFL draft prospect evaluations: how Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals are upending traditional scouting models. Dan Bernstein dives deep into a recent Athletic article by Mike Jones that compiles NFL executives’ perspectives—focused especially on Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles’ notably nuanced take. The conversation extends to how front offices are adapting, how player “hunger” is being questioned in the NIL age, and revisits a controversial moment in Bears scouting history. The episode closes with mailbag insights on draft strategy, roster moves, and position battles for the upcoming season.

NIL and NFL Prospect Evaluation: A Culture Shift

[02:00] The Piece in The Athletic

• Dan references Mike Jones’s article, which discusses how NIL money has permanently changed the landscape for draft prospects.
• Focus is on how prospects are no longer “penniless,” with some earning significant money before the NFL.

[04:09] Ryan Poles’ Empathetic Response

• Dan praises Ryan Poles for his approach, quoting him:

  “I like to follow the whole journey. I don’t hold it against an 18-year-old that gets a million bucks to go to school and maybe didn’t have his priorities straight. Most of us here, if that happened to us, we’d want to do some crazy things too... I want to see the learning lessons that come from that. I want to understand their structure of the people they put around them. I want to understand how they battled through adversity... I think the toughest thing is when there’s an option to transfer. When things get hard, we hurt the resilience of our young players. So I want to learn through that and understand how they grew throughout their ordeals... That doesn’t mean we’d eliminate everybody, but we want to know what’s coming in the building... we need to lean into because I think we have to pick up some of that education on our side now.”
  [05:40]

• Bernstein's take: Poles’ answer is “parental, it’s understanding,” focused on humility and empathy.

The Traditional “Hunger” Narrative—and Its Problems

[07:30] NFL Execs and the “Hunger” Question

• From the Athletic:

  • Joe Schoen (Giants GM):

    “We’re always trying to evaluate hunger. It used to be, what’s this kid gonna be like with money? What’s he gonna do now? These guys come to the league, they have money. So now it’s, how much do they love football? Would they do it for free?”
    [08:45]

• Bernstein notes the uncomfortable undertones of this line of questioning, likening it to “an old Bears memory.”

Revisiting the Jaquan Brisker & “PhD” Scouting Fiasco

[10:35] Chris Prescott’s Infamous Quote

• Recalls 2022, after Jaquan Brisker drafted 48th overall, Bears national scout Chris Prescott described him as:

  “He’s a… what do we call it? A PhD—poor, hungry, and desperate. Football is his life. This is the kid’s life. There’s a lot to like about that when you see a guy who’s so passionate about football.”
  [11:00]

• Dan’s reaction:

  “That then we know he’s got to play really hard. He’s got to give us everything… We gotta pat him on the head and say good job… because you are poor, hungry, and desperate.”
  [12:10]

• Notes Bears quickly fired Prescott; cites Mike Freeman (USA Today):

  “Anyone who speaks and thinks this way shouldn’t be part of a 21st-century NFL franchise… black players are viewed as even less than that. There’s almost an exponential downgrading of their humanity.”
  [13:25]

The Power Shift: From Exploitation to Agency

[14:15] Bernstein’s Moral Frustration

• Critiques the narrative that GMs must now “deal with” prospects who have money:

  “It’s sort of a bastardization of what’s written on the Statue of Liberty. Instead of ‘your poor, your tired, your huddled masses yearning to be free’, it’s ‘your poor, your hungry and desperate learning to break their brains for our amusement…’”
  [15:03]

• Dan finds it “a little gross… a little icky,” that the issue is framed as the NFL “losing the ability to lure poor, hungry, desperate kids.”

[18:50] Empathy & Adaptation: Positive Takeaways

• Praises Elliot Wolf (Patriots, Executive VP) for a more balanced view:

  “Maybe they’re coming in a little bit more entitled, but on the other hand, they’re coming in more prepared from a business standpoint… they have some financial literacy… it’s a double-edged sword… every person can be different.”
  [19:20]

• Dan again circles back to Ryan Poles’ answer as the model: “Good on him… he looked at this as the responsibility of the teams themselves to empathize.”

“A Professional Exploitation”: NFL’s Changing Power Dynamic

[22:45] Exploring Structural Change in the NFL Draft

• As players grow more empowered due to NIL, Bernstein notes:

  “The only way [NFL teams] could prove [players loved football] before… was to go and see their childhood home and know the poverty they came from and know how poor and hungry and desperate they were. Well, it sucked to hear it then, and I don’t like that this kind of stuff is permeating the NFL front offices enough to rise to this level.”
  [23:40]

• When “money” is no longer a dangling carrot, teams will: “...have to have a better pitch than just money. Like anybody else choosing a job: what’s the workplace like?”

• Looks forward to players gaining even more agency, possibly influencing where they’re drafted or re-signed.

Conclusion on NIL: Hope for Player Agency

[25:55] Bernstein’s Bottom Line

• “I think it’s great that you have college players with a better opportunity to dictate their own choices, to have agency, to have actual agency, because they’ve been compensated at an earlier age… The NFL’s had it easy for so long… just go dangling money in front of kids and have them jump at us… maybe he doesn’t have to anymore.”
• “Good on Ryan Poles for hearing these questions and being able to give his answer from a professional and empathetic place.”

Bears Mailbag: Draft, Roster, and Depth Chart (Brad Biggs insights)

[27:30] Mailbag Highlights

• Edge Rusher Draft Strategy: Bears are expected to focus on adding an edge rusher; names like Zion Young (Missouri) frequently mocked to Chicago.
• Veteran Pass Rushers: Options like Von Miller (turns 37; “Happy birthday Von Miller!”) or Jadeveon Clowney (33) are theoretical but unlikely until after the draft, according to Brad Biggs.
• Shemar Turner’s Role:
  • Don’t overlook 2023’s second-round pick, Shemar Turner, as a potential starter at defensive end upon recovering from ACL injury.
  • Biggs:

    “Sentiment was he might best serve the team playing end… if it’s an isolated ACL, he can build it up and be okay.”
    [29:45]

  • Dan’s take: “I'd rather coach down that high motor than coach up a guy who doesn't have one.”
• Offensive Line Draft Possibilities:
  • Kaden Proctor (Iowa) at #25 is discussed.
  • Biggs:

    “I don’t believe you’ll find a consensus franchise left tackle at number 25 in this or any draft… [Proctor] will probably be a right tackle in the NFL, inconsistent in pass protection… some have even suggested he could ultimately wind up playing guard.”
    [31:15]

  • Dan surprised by the idea of Proctor at guard, notes versatility as a benefit for fit in Bears’ run scheme.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Ryan Poles on NIL & Maturity:

  “I don’t hold it against an 18-year-old that gets a million bucks to go to school… I want to see the learning lessons that come from that.” (05:40)

• Chris Prescott on Brisker (“PhD”):

  “He’s a… PhD—poor, hungry and desperate. Football is his life.” (11:00)

• On NFL Team Power Dynamics:

  “It’s a little gross… now the NFL’s lost the ability to lure poor, hungry, desperate kids, and the poor NFL can’t find a way to deal with that.” (15:03)

• Elliot Wolf on NIL’s Double-Edged Sword:

  “Maybe they’re coming in a little more entitled, but on the other hand, they’re coming in more prepared from a business standpoint.” (19:20)

Tone and Style Highlights

Dan Bernstein delivers his signature blend of sharp analytical insight, personal recall, and moral clarity throughout. He’s passionate, sometimes sardonic (“Welcome to it, NFL. Ain’t no fun when the rabbit’s got the gun.” [24:40]), and is especially attentive to underlying player empowerment and labor issues. There’s no shying away from calling out exploitative mindsets, even from beloved institutions like the Bears.

Final Thoughts

• NIL is forcing the NFL to adapt; some execs are grumbling, but forward-thinking teams (like the Bears, led by Ryan Poles) are leading with empathy, adaptation, and respect for player agency.
• The Bears’ draft focus remains on shoring up the pass rush, with eyes on internal development (Turner, Booker) and future flexibility.
• Bernstein urges fans and teams alike to embrace the shift: “The balance of power swinging back in that way… should be celebrated.”

Next episode: Bernstein will host Dan Durkin for deep cuts on scouting and the Bears’ depth chart.