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Chicago Bears: Does Ryan Pace Deserve to Stay?

By Erik Lambert

CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 01: Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace stands on the sidelines during warm-ups prior to the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on November 1, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 01: Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace stands on the sidelines during warm-ups prior to the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on November 1, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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It’s time to address the elephant in the room. Is John Fox the only Chicago Bears problem or does GM Ryan Pace deserve some blame?

This must be prefaced with acknowledgement that the man has done some good things for the team. He’s added possible future staples like Eddie Goldman, Leonard Floyd, Cody Whitehair, and Jordan Howard. Free agent Akiem Hicks is also becoming a star. There’s a lot to like about his forming of the Bears’ new young core. At the same time, he’s had some misfires.

Kevin White is a colossal bust after three-straight season-ending injuries. In fact several of his notable additions to the team have experienced health problems. Pernell McPhee has yet to play a full season in three years for Chicago due to knee issues. Danny Trevathan ruptured his patella last year and now Jerrell Freeman and Nick Kwiatkoski both tore their pecs.  Even guys like Goldman, Floyd and Howard haven’t been able to stay healthy.

Sure it’s football. Guys get hurt in this game. Still, the sheer volume of injuries is feeling less and less like a coincidence by the day.

His unusual money management is another point of contention

He traded Brandon Marshall and Michael Bennett, then let Alshon Jeffery walk in free agency. While that may have served the locker room culture, it did nothing for their offensive production. Overpaying Jeffery might not have been ideal but at least it would’ve kept a credible weapon on the roster. Instead he put all his chips down on White, Cameron Meredith and Markus Wheaton. A grave miscalculation on his part.

Then there’s the money. Pace has shown no issues about spending in free agency over the past few years. The problem is he only half commits. He’ll purchase a lot of players on the cheap, but never go all-in on top names. Sure he got lucky with Hicks but nearly every other “upside” deal he’s made has flopped. His unwillingness to open the checkbook cost them Jeffery and also cost them a shot at a difference-making cornerback this year. How’s that Prince Amukamara deal working out?

Then of course there’s his $18 million farce known as Mike Glennon. Was that puzzling free agent deal an honest belief the former backup could be the guy or merely an expensive ruse to keep attention off Mitch Trubisky? Given the Bears’ unwillingness to start the rookie despite Glennon stinking up the field, that’s hard to say. It’s clear enough though that Pace way overpaid.

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Quality-not-quantity draft approach is dangerous

To be fair Pace does take an aggressive approach in the draft but that often costs picks. In two of the past three drafts they’ve made six and five picks respectively. Even with the nine of the other one they still come in with one less pick than the allotted 21 they’ve gotten in that span. Meanwhile the rival Minnesota Vikings have made 29. This despite their big trade to acquire Sam Bradford last year. It’s hard to rebuild a roster quickly without a large infusion of young talent.

Pace is banking on hitting home runs with his trades up. He traded up for Floyd, Kwiatkoski, Trubisky and Eddie Jackson. Thus far Floyd and Kwiatkoski have suffered injury issues, Trubisky hasn’t played and Jackson is starting but hasn’t made a big impact yet. There’s still time for those four guys to live up to their billing, but if they fail then Pace will have thrown away valuable picks on forlorn hopes.

Not even he can escape the Bears’ record

Now comes the harsh truth of things. The Bears have said they’d be patient with this rebuild, allowing Pace to do it the right way. Problem is the team has not gotten better. They’ve gotten worse. They went from 6-10 in 2015 to 3-13 last year. They’re now 0-2 this season and many experts believe they’ll be 0-4 by the beginning of October. How does that not fall at his feet? It’s his team and the almost the entire roster is made up of players he acquired.

What about this Bears team is truly “better?” It’s not an easy question to ask because Pace seems like a really smart GM. Yet the results thus far aren’t bearing that out. Maybe things will start to shift when Trubisky finally plays but right now even Pace’s job security is starting to look shaky. This isn’t helped by the fact that the 2018 crop of GM possibilities is looking strong.

John Dorsey and Scot McCloughan are two men who headline the possible options. Dorsey oversaw the construction of the Kansas City Chiefs team that is dominating this early season. McCloughan has a long track record of success at San Francisco and Washington before he was somewhat unfairly fired by both teams.

Odds are Pace will survive this coming offseason. Word persists the Bears ownership likes him and will likely give him a chance to hire another coach. Still, things change fast in the NFL.

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