GM Ryan Pace runs the show when it comes to the NFL draft. That’s nothing new. He makes the final decisions. However, it’s also a bit misleading. Time and again he’s made it clear that his objective is to get the input from as many people as possible. Not just his staff and scouts, but the coaches as well. His aim is to “build consensus.” That’s why Vic Fangio had some say in players they’ve drafted, and why it will be the same for Chuck Pagano.
So that brings up an interesting question. How has the coach faired in regards to helping his previous teams acquire talent? This is a bit difficult to answer. Aside from 2011, his lone year as a defensive coordinator, he’s been exclusively a defensive backs coach and a head coach. This means it is a bit difficult to acquire information on who he may or may not have helped find.
After some research, I dug up a list of notable names that likely had his hand in their drafting. Suffice to say that the coach certainly knows how to find guys who make plays.
Chuck Pagano showed an eye for defensive talent later in drafts
Pagano’s knack for helping identify good players started right away. His first year in the NFL in 2001, as secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns, he helped them bring in Anthony Henry out of South Florida as a 4th round pick. He went on to have 31 career interceptions. Chris Crocker, a 3rd rounder in 2003, went on to have 15 interceptions and 14.5 sacks.
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Prior to his arrival in 2008, the Ravens had a problem with finding solid contributors on defense later in drafts. This forced them to continue relying on older veterans. Luckily they had two all-time greats in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Not to mention 1st round picks like Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata. Even so, they had to fill out other positions with contributors from somewhere.
Pagano played a part in them securing two eventual key names to their eventual Super Bowl run in 2012. The first was cornerback Lardarius Webb, a 3rd round pick to his secondary in 2009. The next was linebacker Pernell McPhee, a 5th round pick he brought onto his defense as the coordinator in 2011.
Including the playoffs, Webb had eight interceptions in 2011.
A year later McPhee had a big sack against Denver in the playoffs and then two pass deflections of Tom Brady in the AFC championship game. Two years after that he produced 7.5 sacks for the defense.
Even during his time in Indianapolis, when he was under the thumb of awful Colts GM Ryan Grigson, Pagano managed to find a few specks of gold dust amidst the mud. Fifth round pick David Parry in 2015 became a reliable starting nose tackle. He even got 108 tackles out of 2016 fourth round pick Antonio Morrison in his second season.
Sure no superstars amidst this group but it was evident that when given a chance to actually voice his opinion, Pagano knew good football players when he saw them. Together with the keen eye of Pace and his noted late-round magic, the Bears may end up scoring another unforeseen hit for their defense.
