PACE PUTS ON HIS BEST POKER FACE
GMdoesn’t give awaymuch about Bears’draft plans, but reading between lines can help
It’s lying season. Or, as Bears general manager Ryan Pace said before dancing through a 15- minute news conference Tuesday, ‘‘ a somewhat difficult time of year to talk.’’
With the NFL Draft looming Thursday, here’s how to translate five things Pace said about what the Bears need, what he values and where the team might turn:
He has eight names
Pace’s ‘‘ cloud’’ of first- roundpick candidates runs eight deep and doesn’t include a quarterback.
In fact, he hopes four quarterbacks are taken in the seven picks ahead of the Bears’ No. 8 overall selection.
‘‘ There’s a lot of variables that are going to take place in front of us that are going to dictate who’s going to be there,’’ he said. ‘‘ And we’re excited if any one of those eight names are there.’’
Pace wouldn’t name names, but the list undoubtedly includes Penn State running b ac kS a quo nB ark ley,N.C. State outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, Georgia inside linebacker Roquan Smith and Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Other possibilities include Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, Florida State safety Derwin James and Texas- San Antonio outside linebacker Marcus Davenport.
He’s not afraid to trade
Pace has traded up in the first round the last two years. He moved up two spots to draft Leonard Floyd and one spot to take Mitch Trubisky. He has traded down in the second round both years, too, trying to make up for the lost assets. He might do it again. ‘‘ I think when we identify a guy that we like and there’s unified vision in the building of a player that we want, I don’t think we’re ever afraid to go up and get that guy,’’ Pace said. ‘‘ I’d rather do that
and assure we get that guy than he goes right before you and everybody walks out of the draft room, you know, a little bit disappointed.’’
Part of his ‘‘ cloud’’ is figuring out which players he would be willing to trade up for — and at what cost. Chubb, the clear- cut top edge rusher in a thin class, might fit that bill if he falls to No. 6 overall, where the Colts are drafting.
Or Pace might be the one trading back. If four quarterbacks are picked early, the Bears could, in theory, land someone from their eight- player ‘‘ cloud’’ by drafting as low as No. 12, a pick the Bills are shopping.
The Bears don’t have a thirdround pick this year as a result of the Trubisky trade andwould like to add one.
‘‘ In a perfect world, if we could move around in the draft to get another third- round pick, that’d be beneficial,’’ Pace said.
He needs a pass rusher
Pace stressed a healthy Floyd, who didn’t participate in minicamp last week, will be ‘‘ a significant piece for us.’’ Asked about the Bears’ pass rush, Pace mentioned Aaron Lynch and Sam Acho — who combined for only 6 ½ sacks the last two seasons — before he began to list defensive linemen.
One year after drafting only one defensive player ( safety Eddie Jackson), the Bears need young talent on that side of the ball. Chubb, Edmunds and Davenport all could help them rush the passer.
Pace said Edmunds can play inside and outside linebacker immediately. He doesn’t turn 20 until next week and has one of the highest ceilings in the draft.
‘‘ Some of these players are 20 years old,’’ Pace said, speaking generally. ‘‘ You see a lot of physical traits and talent, and you’re projecting how much better they can get. That’s part of the art of doing this.’’
Coaches are lobbying
Coach Matt Nagy’s staff features former Notre Dame offensiveline coach Harry Hiestand and former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich, as well as runningbacks coach Charles London, who coached Penn State running backs in 2012- 13.
‘‘ We’ve got guys that have just come straight from the college background, obviously, and they have intimate knowledge of all these players,’’ Pace said. ‘‘ Players on their own teams, players they know through friends in the industry, players they know going back to high school that they’ve recruited. So that’s been really valuable for us, kind of tapping into that.’’
Hiestand, of course, mentored Nelson, one of the top guard prospects in the history of the draft. Pace said only that the Bears ‘‘ know a lot about him.’’
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio — who coached one college season eight years ago— has done some lobbying of his own.
‘‘ Vic just comes down and champions the defensive players all the time,’’ Pace said. ‘‘ Vic looks at a ton of players. He’s got opinions on every one of them. He’s got convictions on every one of them.’’
He feels more comfortable
Entering his fourth draft, Pace has a better feel for the process: how to digest 10 or 12 reports on each player, which of his scouts grade more generously than others and sensing when to trade.
The last three years have taught him to be bold, too. One year after trading up to snag his franchise quarterback — and drawing criticism in some circles — Pace will use that experience to decide whether he needs to make another big splash.
‘‘ Make a move if you need to make a move,’’ he said. ‘‘ And that can go the other way, too. . . . I think not being afraid to move around in the draft and using that to your advantage.’’