On March 9, the NFL released the full slate for the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Chicago Bears did not receive two compensatory picks via the Rooney Rule after assistant general manager Ian Cunningham left to take the general manager job of the Atlanta Falcons.
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The league’s reasoning for denying the Bears was simple: Cunningham will be the second football executive in Atlanta behind president of football Matt Ryan. The compensatory picks only go to teams who lose an assistant GM to a team that grants a new employee the top executive title.
During the NFL combine in February, general manager Ryan Poles said the team was appealing the league’s decision.
The Bears got a no, but didn’t give up.
Chicago Bears met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
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Per Adam Hoge of CHGO Bears, CEO/president Kevin Warren stated at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix this week that the team is still trying to get the league to fold on the issue. Warren, owner George McCaskey, and Poles flew to New York to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on the matter.
“Kevin Warren says the Bears are still in communication with the NFL about the comp picks and waiting to hear back. Obviously, we’re only a few weeks away from the draft,” Hoge posted on X.
“Kevin Warren, George McCaskey and Ryan Poles recently flew to New York to meet with Roger Goodell about the comp picks and made their appeal in person. It’s still possible they receive a third round pick in this month’s draft, but a decision will be needed soon.”
Kevin Warren, George McCaskey and Ryan Poles recently flew to New York to meet with Roger Goodell about the comp picks and made their appeal in person. It's still possible they receive a third round pick in this month's draft, but a decision will be needed soon. https://t.co/yNXYdCxevV
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) April 1, 2026
The NFL Draft is set to begin on April 23, with Day 2 of the draft occurring on April 24. With three weeks remaining until Day 2, the league doesn’t have much time to reorient the draft to fit the Bears.
It doesn’t look like the Bears will receive those two draft picks for Cunningham at this point, but the team isn’t giving up easily.
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