The truth of the matter is clear at this point. Only one man stands between the Chicago Bears and a change at quarterback. That is GM Ryan Pace. Mitch Trubisky was his guy. That much was clear when he gave up four draft picks including the 2nd overall in 2017 to secure his services. It was an all-in move by a bold, young GM who felt he saw his own Drew Brees in the 22-year old. Fast forward three seasons and that gamble is looking more and more like a Blackjack player who doubled down on a pair of sevens.
So now here Pace is. His sixth NFL offseason and easily the most important of his career. Everything boils down to one question. What will he do at quarterback? He said quite clearly back in January that the plan remains to have Trubisky the starter in 2020. However, Bears insider Adam Jahns of The Athletic seems to think it's not quite as set in stone as some think. While Trubisky may be the tentative option right now, Pace will absolutely make a change if the right situation presents itself.
Namely, if he gets a push from his partner in crime.
2. But is Pace willing to move on from Trubisky if a better option presents itself in free agency or the trade market?
Yes, I do think he would be.
As Pace also said last month, “we need more time in the coming months to evaluate everything.” What if Nagy — his handpicked coach who still kept the Bears’ ship from completely sinking last season — and his revamped staff want a change at quarterback?
If Pace was emboldened to draft Trubisky because of an organizational consensus (other than former coach John Fox, who preferred a defensive player), he’s surely capable of moving on from him with the same thought process.
Ryan Pace no longer has time on his side
While the determination and belief in Trubisky are admirable, Pace no longer has the luxury of time. It's been three years now. The young quarterback played fairly well in 2018 but he was aided by a decent running game and a defense that almost set records in takeaways. Take both of those things away and people saw what Trubisky probably is most of the time.
A below-average quarterback.
People will use the excuse that he took over a bad team, which is fair. Still, Pace can't escape the reality that he has had just one winning season in five years now. He hasn't delivered on his promise to make the Bears consistent contenders and a lot of that is because he screwed up the quarterback spot. It's hard not to feel like if he stands by Trubisky that he will find himself out of a job by next January.
This sense of urgency may end up being what sparks a change.
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