First allow me to get this out of the way. I was wrong about GM Ryan Pace and for that I apologize. I was one of many who thought he consistently pursued the second tier, cheaper free agents every year and robbing the Chicago Bears of chances to really improve. At one point I even called him a penny pincher. Time has shown that was off base. New information has come to light that Pace indeed doesn’t fear spending when the situation calls for it.
Most will say that was proven with the huge deal he gave Mike Glennon in free agency this past March. However, while the contract was expensive it was actually middle-of-the-road for a starting NFL quarterback. To date Pace has only given top five money to a veteran free agent once in the past three years. That was the $21 million deal he handed Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton back in 2016.
Since then it’s seemed like Pace was reluctant to continue forking out heavily-guaranteed contracts while he tried to build through the draft. Initially this was thought to be why the 2017 free agent class was such a disaster. As it turns out the explanation may have been more complicated. Perhaps the Bears were as desirable a destination as first thought.
Chicago Bears free agency work came close to landing A.J. Bouye
By far the best free agent class of 2017 belonged to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Much of that centered on two key additions they made. One was veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell who delivered 14.5 sacks this season. The other was former Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye who was emerging as one of the best in the league. He has since earned his first Pro Bowl while helping Jacksonville reach the AFC championship.
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As it turns out according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, he came close to choosing a different destination.
“Oh yeah, I definitely 100 percent wanted to come back to Houston,” Bouye said this week during a telephone interview from the Jaguars’ training facility. “Things didn’t work out. My agent told me what they said as far as being told I was looked at as their fourth-best corner. It was like, ‘Why give him that money?’
“I could see how the organization and the coaches looked at me. It was nothing personal, but I knew they would count me out. Jacksonville didn’t even offer the most money. Chicago offered the most. Something told me to go with Jacksonville. I like their talent. It was closer to home, and it’s in the division. I’m happy here.”
Painful as the miss was, this signals the Bears may be active this year
In the end it’s hard to begrudge his decision. Bouye got to stay where it was familiar, went to the playoffs and had the best season of his career with six interceptions and 18 passes defended. Still it’s hard not to imagine how much better the Bears defense might’ve been had they been able to pair him with Kyle Fuller who experienced a resurgence this season.
There is no sense brooding over such things. Still this might be more proof than fans have ever had that Pace might be thinking aggressively in 2018. They have considerable needs at wide receiver among other positions. Several notable names could be available but may require expensive deals. This shows Pace may be willing to open up the checkbook.
