The Chicago Bears’ are three weeks away from making their first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. The main focus of the offseason has been general manager Ryan Pace’s quest to find a long-term solution at quarterback for the Bears. After being linked to every potentially available veteran quarterback via trade, there is nothing stopping Pace from doing everything in his power to trade up in the draft if he has his ideal quarterback prospect.

With teams locked into the first three overall picks, the Atlanta Falcons now have received trade calls from multiple teams and “are open to moving” out of the No. 4 spot, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 6, 2021

There Is Nothing Stopping Pace from “Going All In” For A Quarterback

This year’s draft has the potential to see the most quarterbacks drafted in the first round in over 22years. In the 1999 NFL Draft, five quarterbacks were selected in the first round, including the Bears, who drafted UCLA Quarterback Cade McNown twelfth overall. Four of the five quarterback prospects in this year’s draft could be selected within the first five selections. Pace, who has stressed before that the quarterback position is the most important in football, needs a long-term solution after signing veteran quarterback Andy Dalton in March.

Crapshoot, illustrated: 1999 NFL Draft, five QBs in top 12 picks. Career TDs: Couch 64, McNabb 234, Akili Smith 5, Culpepper 149, McNown 16.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 13, 2017

With the 2021 season being a make-or-break year for both Pace and head coach Matt Nagy, Chicago’s general manager could be willing to pay any price to move up to take an elite quarterback talent. In an offseason where the Bears were linked to potential trades for Russell Wilson, Carson Wentz, Deshaun Watson, and Derek Carr, it wouldn’t be unlikely for the team to trade up to get either Mac Jones, Justin Fields, or Trey Lance.

Pace’s aggressive pursuit of Wilson is something to note because he was willing to trade first-round draft picks and pro-bowl defensive talent to acquire Seattle’s perennial Pro Bowl Quarterback. Chicago’s general manager was open to trading All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack and Pro Bowl defensive end Akiem Hicks in return for an elite quarterback. Had the Seahawks accepted the trade, Chicago would have sacrificed a top 10 defense for a better offense. The Wilson trade offer demonstrates that Pace’s mindset on solving the Bears’ quarterback dilemma.

From @GMFB: The #Bears are signing QB Andy Dalton, but only after a clandestine meeting between #Bears GM Ryan Pace and #Seahawks GM John Schneider in Fargo, ND did not result in a trade for Russell Wilson — despite Chicago's best efforts. pic.twitter.com/HEQlDNHtLS

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2021

Pace Has A Track Record of Trading Up For Players He Covets

Another aspect to note about Pace’s likelihood of drafting up for a quarterback is his track record of doing so. In four consecutive drafts, the Bears’ general manager traded up in either the first, second, or third round. Pace traded up in the first round in both 2016 and 2017 to move up one spot each time to draft linebacker Leonard Floyd and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. In 2018, the Bears traded up in the second round to select receiver Anthony Miller, and in 2019, they traded up in the third round to select running back David Montgomery.

GM Ryan Pace has now made nine draft day trades in his #Bears tenure: four coming in 2016, three in 2017, one last season when he traded up in the second round to draft WR Anthony Miller and now one this year for RB David Montgomery.

— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) April 27, 2019

The trade-up for Trubisky in 2017 is Pace’s most memorable draft-day trade as he traded multiple picks to the San Francisco 49ers to move from the third overall spot to the second. He did so to select the quarterback that he felt was the best prospect in a draft class that featured both Watson and Patrick Mahomes. Pace believes that not only that Trubisky was the best quarterback talent available in the draft, but that he needed to trade up or else another team would have done so.

#Bears GM Ryan Pace says the coaching job is attractive because of Mitchell Trubisky, the team's best players are young, the team's 7 draft picks, their salary cap flexibility and the expansion of Halas Hall.

— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) January 1, 2018

Two of Pace’s most common traits when it comes to the draft are finding quality talent in the mid-rounds and trading up for a player he believes is a difference-maker. Whether it was Trubisky, Miller, or Montgomery, Chicago’s general manager has gone all-in on college players he truly covets. The same can happen again as just a few weeks ago, Pace attended Alabama’s Pro Day to view Jones’ work out.

Quarterback Mac Jones has had two pro days in the last two weeks.

Chicago Bears OC Bill Lazor and QB coach John DeFilippo attended his first pro day.

GM Ryan Pace, HC Matt Nagy, and director of player personnel Josh Lucas attended his second pro day.

(Via @danwiederer)

— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) April 3, 2021

During an offseason in which the main priority has been to find a concrete solution at the quarterback position, Pace appeared to do everything within his power to do just that. After missing on an elite quarterback such as Wilson, in a year where his job is on the line, nothing is holding the Bears’ general manager back from solving his quarterback issue in the draft. A significant trade to move up and select a franchise quarterback could help Pace redeem his career after the Trubisky debacle, something that is possible given what has transpired this offseason.