By now one would think Ryan Pace may understand how to operate an NFL roster. The Chicago Bears GM transformed one of the oldest and most depleted groups in team history into a contender over the course of four years. He built arguably the best defense in the NFL, hired a Coach of the Year, and put together a talented offense. Yet people continue to deliver harsh criticisms on him whenever a somewhat notable roster decision is made.
Among the first to earn widespread criticism was letting wide receiver Cameron Meredith walk away as a restricted free agent to the New Orleans Saints. Many felt Meredith, who had a tremendous 2016 season, was worth keeping around. However, Pace made it clear that he was warned by the Bears training staff that there was zero certainty about Meredith’s knee. One that was badly torn up in the 2017 preseason a year prior.
Time proved Pace wise. Meredith failed to get going in New Orleans and was eventually released after one season. Fast forward a year, and it was the same situation all over again when he chose to let cornerback Bryce Callahan hit the market. Plenty in the media lambasted him for this decision, believing Callahan to be one of the best slot corners in the league.
This is true, provided when the man is on the field. Callahan’s Bears career could be summed up by some nice highlights intermixed with long periods on the injury report with various ailments. He could never stay healthy and Pace wasn’t willing to invest significant money in such a player. Once again, time has proven him wise as recent developments in Denver show.
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Ryan Pace found replacements for his losses
While this situation is personally sad for Callahan himself, it’s a reminder that Pace knows what he’s doing. Every decision is carefully considered. Will they always be right? Of course not. That doesn’t mean they weren’t taken seriously. Pace felt he could find a way to get by without Callahan or Adrian Amos with the core of talent the Bears still had on defense. Early indications suggest he was correct. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Buster Skrine have proved solid additions to the secondary.
The defense is 8th overall and 2nd in points allowed. Every bit as good as it was last season. Pace is far from infallible, but the media criticisms against him for a move like this can tend to get a bit unfair at times. He had strong grounds for it that had nothing to do with money. It was a simple case of talent versus availability. The Bears GM though he could sacrifice a bit of the former in order to gain more of the latter. He was correct.
