Just noticed that Poles didn't even attempt to resign James Daniels, as mentioned in the latest Suntimes article about the Bears' final roster cuts. Daniels was considered "one of the most athletic offensive linemen coming into the league... Combine his terrific movement skills with long arms, and you have a player who projected very well at the next level." which he lived up to, in his four years with the Bears, per
Steelers OG James Daniels considered among most underrated free agent signings
How does that jive with the alleged intention of Poles trying to remake the O-line "lighter" and "quicker" in the same Suntimes article? Was it just the 8.8 mil/yr (for 3 years) price tag that it took Pitt to sign the 24-yr old Daniels, making him the 7th highest paid at his position, or do we have another case of a GM trying to show he's "smarter" than his peers or at least predecessor (Pace), just like his predecessor often did with his GM moves? That, coupled with the dramas over the handling of Tevan Jenkins and the dealings with Roquan Smith, makes me think it doesn't so well for Poles as a GM.