Want an idea of how well GM Ryan Pace has managed the Chicago Bears roster to this point? One need not look further than the latest rankings for the top 25 NFL free agents going into the 2020 calendar year. Most of the time when a team is absent from such lists, it means they don't have a good depth chart. However, the Bears are a unique case. They're considered one of the five best rosters in the league and yet, according to Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com, only one player set to become available is worth noting.
That is Cody Whitehair. The fourth-year interior offensive lineman is coming off his best season as a pro, having made the Pro Bowl as a center. The Bears have since shifted him to left guard in order to make room for James Daniels. Whitehair doesn't seem bothered by the move. If anything he prefers it, having gone through some struggles at center the past few seasons. If anything though, this shift should only enhance his value on the open market.
Rosenthal said as much.
"Quality interior linemen with the versatility to play guard or center are a scarce commodity in the NFL, which will only drive up the demand for Whitehair."
There is no question teams would line up for a chance to grab him next March. The problem is the likelihood of him being available is remote. This is where Pace really shines as a GM.
Chicago Bears have done great work keeping their own
Pace has established a policy from the beginning. He is somebody who wants to build from within. That means drafting well and rewarding his own players when they perform. This has held true since he took over. Look at the list of notable players who got contract extensions well in advance of them even considering free agency.
- Akiem Hicks
- Charles Leno
- Eddie Goldman
- Bobby Massie
They also made sure to keep Kyle Fuller and Pat O'Donnell despite them testing the market over the past year as well. There is word already that they're prepared to discuss an extension with safety Eddie Jackson once the current season concludes. This team seems to have everything planned out and are prepared for all eventualities.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, and Jacksonville Jaguars face the real danger of losing multiple key players in 2020. This either because of poor cap management or a simple case of the team being too cheap. Chicago certainly has good reason to feel confident about the Bears' stability moving forward.
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