CHICAGO — The NFL officially ended the Chicago Bears’ quest for extra draft capital on Friday. League officials informed the Bears that their appeal for two third-round compensatory picks was denied, following the departure of former assistant general manager Ian Cunningham to the Atlanta Falcons. The ruling leaves Chicago with seven selections heading into the 2026 NFL Draft later this month.
The dispute centered on a specific clause in the league’s minority hiring reward policy. Typically, a team receives third-round picks in consecutive years when a minority executive is hired away as a “Primary Football Executive.” While the Falcons hired Cunningham as their general manager in late January, the league ruled he does not hold the top spot in Atlanta’s hierarchy. That title belongs to franchise legend Matt Ryan, whom Atlanta named President of Football Operations just three weeks before hiring Cunningham.
Chicago argued that Cunningham handles the day-to-day roster construction, but the NFL remained firm. Because Ryan outranks him on the organizational chart, the league determined the “Primary” role was already filled. The decision is a massive blow to Bears GM Ryan Poles, who effectively loses two top-100 assets due to a title designation. Chicago currently holds the No. 25 overall pick and two second-rounders at No. 57 and No. 60.
“The matter is now closed following the club’s appeal. The NFL informed the Bears today they will not receive compensatory picks. The policy is designed to provide picks for the Primary Football Executive position. The League determined Mr. Cunningham did not fill that role with the Falcons as it is defined in League rules.”— NFL League Statement
Losing out on those picks changes the math for the Bears’ front office. Earlier this week in Phoenix, team chairman George McCaskey urged the league to “think big picture” regarding the precedent this sets. If teams can bypass the compensatory system by hiring a President of Football Operations above a minority GM, the incentive for developing diverse executive talent could weaken.
For now, the Bears must focus on a draft board that lacks the extra depth they expected. With four picks in the top 100, Poles still has enough capital to bolster a roster that made a deep run last season. However, the lack of those 2026 and 2027 third-rounders means Chicago has less flexibility to trade up for a blue-chip prospect on opening night in Pittsburgh.
