With all the questions surrounding the future of the Chicago Bears, everybody should feel comfortable knowing they are in good hands. The general manager, Ryan Pace, has been indirectly credited with absolutely demolishing the 2016 NFL Draft now that the season has ended... and it's time to give some credit where it's due.
When the Bears initially concluded their draft last April, the grades were good. NBC ranked every pick a "B" or better, ESPN had a lot of good things to say and NFL.com gave Chicago a solid "A-". It was no secret that the arrow was pointing up for a lot of the young talent the Bears acquired.
This was good news for the youngest GM in the NFL because the seventh overall pick from the year before and his first with the Bears, Kevin White, was sidelined once again this season with an injury. Pace was brought to Chicago after being a former director of scouting for New Orleans, his eye for talent was the reason he was hired. White hasn't helped Pace's cause much, neither did a handful of free agents that initially failed but last year's draft sure did.
After the final games of the regular season concluded, Pro Football Focus released a report that basically told everyone it's time to start taking Pace very seriously.
In a recent article titled "Top 10 NFL Rookies This Season" by Michael Renner, not one but two of Pace's 2016 draft picks are listed. Here's the most interesting part ... neither of them were first-round pick Leonard Floyd.
Jordan Howard ranked as the fifth best rookie on the list behind Ezekiel Elliot, Dak Prescott, Jack Conklin and Joey Bosa. Howard was taken in the fifth round, but he finished the season graded as the seventh best running back in football. Howard also finished second in rushing yards behind Elliot, and he only started 13 games.
Cody Whitehair, Chicago's makeshift center, was ranked ninth on the list. Already the best player at his position for the Bears, Whitehair may be the most impressive because he transitioned to center after an injury - he was originally expected to be a guard. He ended up finishing the season as the sixth highest graded center in the NFL and his move opened the door for the Bears to sign Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton.
As we already indicated, Floyd didn't even make the list of the top 10 - but he proved to everyone he's got a bright future ahead. In 12 starts, Floyd accumulate seven sacks, 23 tackles and two pass deflections. He also recorded a safety. Had concussions not slowed him down, he'd likely be the third Bears player on PFF's top 10.
Talking about the success of Pace's recent draft class without mentioning LB Nick Kwiatkoski would be a mistake. In just seven starts this season, Kwiatkoski made 44 tackles, had one sack and forced a fumble. A lot of his playing time was generated by the injury to Danny Trevathan and the suspension of Jerrell Freeman, but Kwiatkoski made the most of his opportunity proving he belongs in the NFL.
As far as the rest of Pace's 2016 draft picks, the jury is still out. Most analysts say you should give a player three years before judging if they will be successful or not, four of the nine Pace chose last April only needed one.
Phil Emery is gone ladies and gentleman.
In Pace we trust.
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