The Chicago Bears off-season for 2018 was easily the most important of the past 10 years. Why? It represented a critical juncture in several circumstances. GM Ryan Pace enters his fourth year of a five-year contract without a winning season. Matt Nagy becomes the new head coach. Mitch Trubisky goes into the all-important second year of a cheap rookie deal that must be taken advantage of, no matter the cost.
That meant every move they made from January to now was magnified in importance. Free agency and the draft were the equivalents of high noon in a western movie. That may sound a little over the top but it’s true. Pace had to score big or he risked everything he’s been building towards being wasted. Now that the dust has settled, how did he fare?
Peter King is one of the most accomplished and experienced NFL insiders in the business. He’s had his finger on league pulses for years and is a solid evaluator in his own right. So it was interesting to hear what he had to say regarding general impressions of the Bears off-season.
Chicago Bears off-season was a smashing success to King and others
King isn’t one to offer huge praise often. He usually has one or two things to point out regarding teams might’ve missed on. That wasn’t the case with the Bears. He found little to feel questionable about.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
“Overall, the Bears had the best offseason of any team in football. GM Ryan Pace totally revamped the wideout corps, with vet Allen Robinson and rookie Anthony Miller the keys there. On defense, there’s a new-style monster of the midway, a rangy 235-pound sideline-to-sideline force, linebacker Roquan Smith. The Bears were fortunate to get him eighth overall, and he should be perfect in the middle of Vic Fangio’s defense.”
Pretty strong statement from King. Indeed there is only one criticism regarding Pace’s execution of the Bears off-season. That was his failure to add significant help at edge rusher, which remains their biggest weakness. To be fair though the position was considered weak both in free agency and the draft this year.
Pace has always been a man drive by “best player available.” It’s likely other free agents and draft prospects would offer more to the team than reaching for an edge rusher. Add in the fact 2019 looks like a strong year for the position, the Bears probably felt comfortable taking a pass. Credit Pace for having the guts to make that tough decision.
