One thing about Pace is he’s a man who operates according to a plan. He won’t go beyond a certain dollar amount and has backups for his backups. What some people may not know is he often uses free agency to funnel his roster towards being able to draft a specific position. What does that mean? Here is a comprehensive breakdown of all the notable free agent moves the Bears have made over the past two years. Then it each list will conclude with who the team took in the first round of the subsequent draft.
2015 SIGNED:
- Pernell McPhee (OLB)
- Antrel Rolle (S)
- Eddie Royal (WR)
- Vladimir Ducasse (OG)
- Thomas Gafford (LS)
- Jarvis Jenkins (DE)
- Mason Foster (ILB)
- Alan Ball (CB)
- Jacquizz Rodgers (RB)
- Sam Acho (OLB)
- Will Montgomery (C)
- Bear Pascoe (TE)
- Tracy Porter (CB)
DRAFTED: Kevin White (WR, West Virginia)
2016 SIGNED:
- De’Vante Bausby (CB)
- Cornelius Edison (C)
- Paul Lasike (FB)
- Danny Trevathan (ILB)
- Bobby Massie (OT)
- Jerrell Freeman (ILB)
- Akiem Hicks (DE)
- Aaron Brewer (LS)
- Ted Larsen (OG)
- Brian Hoyer (QB)
- Connor Shaw (QB)
DRAFTED: Leonard Floyd (OLB, Georgia)
What exactly can be extrapolated from this? It’s important not to note the number of players signed but the positions they’re signed at. Then putting that up against what were considered the biggest needs of those years. In 2015 it was unquestionably wide receiver thanks to the Bears trading Brandon Marshall to the Jets. Though they signed Eddie Royal, he was neither the same type nor talented receiver as Marshall. By not acquiring another body at the position, Pace tipped his cap about the likelihood of drafting one early. A quick counter-punch to the loss.
A year later in 2016, primary concerns centered on the pass rush. Most notably the questionable health status of linebacker Pernell McPhee. Look at the list of free agents. Not a single outside linebacker signed. Is it really any surprise that the team traded up to secure Floyd in the first round? He was exactly what they wanted and needed. Odds are by the end of free agency they were already targeting him.
So applying this same examination, what does it say about the 2017 likelihood?
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