SETTING HIS OWN PACE
Despite what critics might say, GM never wavered in his approach
Ryan Pace knows how his critics will look at the Bears’ 2017 draft class.
He drafted a quarterback who started only one season in college and gave up multiple picks to do so. He later selected three offensive players from small schools few people in Chicago are familiar with.
And with a draft deep at safety, cornerback and edge rusher, the Bears took only one player on defense — a safety coming off a serious leg injury who won’t be fully ready to go when he arrives. But Pace doesn’t care. He believes in quarterback Mitch Trubisky. And he believes in his draft board and his unwavering “best- player- available” approach that netted his team Ashland ( Ohio) tight end Adam Shaheen at No. 45, Alabama safety Eddie Jackson at No. 112, North Carolina A& T running back Tarik Cohen at No. 119 and Kutztown ( Pennsylvania) guard Jordan Morgan at No. 147.
“There’s so much that goes into this and so much knowledge gained on these players that makes [ coach] John [ Fox] and I feel more comfortable when we’re making these decisions,” Pace said Saturday after his third draft as the Bears’ general manager. “Whether it’s a one- year starter or a smallschool player or a guy coming off an injury, we’ve thoroughly researched these things to feel good about them.”
Trubisky, of course, will define the class. But that storyline will take time because he needs to develop.
In the meantime, the Bears decided to stick to their draft board and pass on defenders who stand out. A plug- and- play safety or defensive lineman would have gone a long way in helping coordinator Vic Fangio’s already decent defense.
According to the NFL, there were 56 defensive backs and 32 linebackers selected in the draft — and the Bears came away with only Jackson.
“The drafts unfold different ev- ery year,” Pace said. “This year, that’s just the way it worked out, and you guys know we’re taking best player available and that’s the way the draft fell. We’re just happy to get good football players.”
The five selections are the fewest in Pace’s tenure. The Bears made nine picks last year and six in 2015.
For a team that wants to build through the draft, the Bears likely came up short this time.