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Chicago Bears: Ryan Pace in line for Executive of the Year

By Erik Lambert

LAKE FOREST, IL - JANUARY 09: General manager Ryan Pace of the Chicago Bears speaks to the media during an introductory press conference for new head coach Matt Nagy at Halas Hall on January 9, 2018 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
LAKE FOREST, IL - JANUARY 09: General manager Ryan Pace of the Chicago Bears speaks to the media during an introductory press conference for new head coach Matt Nagy at Halas Hall on January 9, 2018 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Mitch Trubisky is the focus of the Chicago Bears resounding finish to the first quarter of 2018. Rightfully so, but what about the guy who drafted him?

GM Ryan Pace has taken it on the chin for over a year for his decision to not only draft Trubisky, but trade up multiple picks to move up one spot to get him. Throw that on top of having yet to produce a winning season and the man was under the gun from the local and national media. One can only imagine how thrilled he was when Trubisky lit up the Buccaneers for six touchdown passes. It was the first validation that his move last April was a good call.

Yet it’s his work since then that may end up landing the coveted honor of Executive of the Year. This is bestowed up GMs, VPs, or presidents who had a great offseason of work that made their teams into winners. Last year it was Howie Roseman for his exemplary job building up the Philadelphia Eagles into a Super Bowl champion. That crown will be passed on this year, and it’s Pace who may end up collecting it.

The young executive had one of his worst offseasons in 2017 with the exception of the draft. His free agent class which included Mike Glennon, Markus Wheaton, Quintin Demps, and Dion Sims was a complete bust. He needed to change things up for 2018 and boy did he ever. His work from March through September was a thing of beauty and it’s driven the Bears to the top of the NFC North.

Ryan Pace 2018 acquisitions through the first month:

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That is one hell of a run of quality pickups in one offseason. Mack is in the current favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and some are even pushing for MVP. Robinson looks every bit like the #1 target the Bears hoped he would be for Trubisky. Gabriel and Burton have already created a nice handful of big plays on offense while Parkey quietly goes about his business making field goals.

Even more encouraging has been their rookie class. Roquan Smith missed all of training camp and preseason, barely played in the opener against Green Bay and still became the starter by week 2. He’s been gobbling up ball carriers ever since. Miller was beginning to turn things up the past week before his unfortunate shoulder injury. He should be fine after the bye week. The biggest surprise is Nichols.

Not only is the 5th round pick getting more playing time than expected, but he’s also looking like a way better player than his draft status indicates. It continues a string of successful mid-round picks Pace has added to this roster along with Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, and Eddie Jackson.

When this offseason concluded, many thought it was the best Pace had put together in his four-year tenure. On paper at least. One month into the season, it’s working out better than anyone could’ve hoped.

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