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Ryan Poles has pieces in place for Bears' next step

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The Ryan Poles Makeover of the Bears’ roster is just about complete.

After cutting guard Cody Whitehair, trading quarterback Justin Fields and letting wide receiver Darnell Mooney and safety Eddie Jackson go in free agency, just three starting position players and eight overall remain from the 77 players Poles inherited from Ryan Pace in 2022 (on the active roster, practice squad and injured reserve).

Three of the Pace players have signed multi-year contract extensions: cornerback Jaylon Johnson (four years, $76 million through 2027), tight end Cole Kmet (four years, $50 million through 2027) and place-kicker Cairo Santos (four years, $15.