Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace is operating under a pressure cooker this offseason. All signs point to his job being on the line. So he can’t afford many misfires. Especially at the quarterback position. After months of speculation including a Russell Wilson tease, the team ended up going with longtime veteran Andy Dalton as their acquisition of choice.
The 33-year old signed a one-year deal worth $10 million. A modest sum compared to what Mike Glennon got in 2017 but still enough to confirm he would likely be the starter in 2021. Something the QB himself later stated was his belief as well. At last after weeks of wondering, Pace finally spoke to the media. Inevitably the first questions were about the changes at quarterback. Most importantly?
Why Dalton? His answers were fairly straightforward.
It came down to a mixture of his experience, his past productivity, his leadership, and his fit for the Bears offense. When combing through the free agent market, Pace and the rest of the team brass felt Dalton was the most complete QB they could acquire. So they made sure to act quickly. Despite interest from San Francisco and Denver, it became clear that Chicago was the preferred destination. They were giving him a chance to start.
Ryan Pace, on why he likes Andy Dalton: "Obviously, his experience. He's a 9-year starter. He's been to three Pro Bowls."
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) April 2, 2021
"He's one of the more complete quarterbacks that we evaluated this year in free agency and we're excited to have him."
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) April 2, 2021
"We feel like we've gotten better with Andy [Dalton]"
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) April 2, 2021
#Bears GM Ryan Pace on QB Andy Dalton: "The fit with the offense, the leadership that he provides, his decision making. When you look back over the last five years, this was Andy’s best completion percentage. I just think he’s a good fit for our offense."
— Sean Hammond (@sean_hammond) April 2, 2021
#Bears GM Ryan Pace: “That’s how we see Andy Dalton — as a starting quarterback.”
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) April 2, 2021
Is it an endorsement? Not exactly. Merely a statement of fact. Pace felt Dalton was the best they could do on the veteran market. When looking at their realistic options? Yeah, that’s fair. One can argue if the Bears are actually better at quarterback. However, there was no indication that the team feels it’s done adding at the position. The door was left wide open for the possibility of adding a young arm via the draft. Dalton is their guy for the time being. Nothing more.
Andy Dalton isn’t going to sell the tickets
Pace knows this. He isn’t stupid. There’s a reason the Bears only signed him to a modest one-year deal. Always follow the money. The money says they view him as a spot starter. Somebody who can hold the position down. Be a game manager. Dalton’s role in 2021 will essentially be mirroring Alex Smith. That is almost certainly who Matt Nagy envisioned when the idea of signing the veteran came up.
Make good decisions. Don’t turn the ball over. Throw accurate passes and manufacture more points. Smith did this quite well in Kansas City for a number of years. Andy Dalton himself did it for years in Cincinnati and even last season in Dallas. He’s not Tom Brady. The Bears aren’t saying he is. He is just the best they can do right now. That may not be good enough for fans but it’s the reality.
All one can do is wait to see what Pace does next.
There are still rumblings Chicago isn’t done at quarterback. Some believe they might make another run at Russell Wilson. Others think they’re targeting somebody early in the draft. One thing is certain. The Bears hanging their hat entirely on Dalton would be exceedingly dangerous and a really tough sell when the time comes for tickets to go on sale.
