The 2021 Chicago Bears season is an important one for the future of both head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace. Both could be fired if the team doesn't have a deep playoff run or a winning season. Pace has been Chicago's general manager since 2015 and has been successful with a majority of his draft picks, but even more impressive has been his ability to find value for his draft selections that haven't panned out.

Pace Has Demonstrated An Ability To Get Draft Capital For His Selections

Since 2015, Pace has conducted several trades to move on from either free-agent signings or drafted players that did not work out for the Bears. In his first season as general manager, he picked up several lower-level draft picks in return for both free agents and drafted players brought by the previous general Phil Emery. Pace traded defensive end Jared Allen and 2013 second linebacker Jon Bostic three weeks into the 2015 season for sixth-round selections. It was an impressive feat getting any return for either player, given the fact that the Bears had one of the worst defenses in franchise history in 2014.

Following 2015, Pace demonstrated a value of trading his draft selections that either didn't work out or have a role with the team anymore. One player was Pro Bowl running back Jordan Howard, who was traded after the 2018 season. Howard did not have a role in Nagy's offense as he was not a pass-catching running back and other teams knew that the Bears wanted to move him. Instead of being forced to release him, Pace was able to find a trade partner in the Philadelphia Eagles and recuperate a sixth-round draft pick for the 2020 NFL Draft. Pace's second-round selections in 2017 and 2018 have both been traded for draft picks the last two seasons, to the shock of many. There were high expectations for both tight-end Adam Shaheen and wide receiver Anthony Miller, but neither lived up to their potential during their time with the Bears. Shaheen was often injured and lacked consistent production when he was on the field. Miller flashed in his rookie season catching seven touchdown passes but has been inconsistent and battled immaturity issues while on the field.

Pace received a seventh-round selection for Shaheen as the tight end had only recorded 26 receptions and four touchdowns during his three-year career with the Bears. Chicago's general manager traded the embattled Miller, who was a candidate to be cut at the end of training camp this year, to the Houston Texans for a 2022 fifth-round selection. In both these cases, Pace recuperated some value in players that didn't work out for the team instead of losing them in free agency for nothing.

Pace Has Been Able to Minimize His Draft Mistakes As Much as possible.

Remarkably, Pace has been able to find draft value for players that didn't work out for the Bears. Previous Bears' general managers failed to recuperate their losses on draft selections that didn't work out. Both Emery and Jerry Angelo are remembered for their poor draft classes that led to poor Bears' seasons, whether in 2009 or 2014. After rebuilding the Bears from 2015 to 2017, Pace has overseen three consecutive non-losing Bears' seasons that have featured two playoff appearances.

Although Pace has only drafted one proven first-round success in linebacker Roquan Smith, one of the main reasons why the team has been successful over the last three years is due in part to his drafting ability. Other than Mitchell Trubisky, Kevin White, and Leonard Floyd, the rest of the higher-round Bears' draft selections from 2015 have contributed to the team's success. The players that haven't have been traded for future draft selections. That is the mark of a quality general manager as he can cut his losses to a minimum without any long-term percussions. Pace has made mistakes, but unlike previous Bears' general managers, he has still given the Bears a chance to win through the draft. Even with the Draft Day trade that enabled the team to draft Justin Fields 11th overall, Chicago's general manager still made a quality trade without overpaying or mortgaging the future beyond 2022.

Draft selections are deemed highly valuable, and trading players for draft picks is always a questionable decision if the players are not proven. Pace has been able to convince opposing teams that his failed draft selections continue to carry value. Shaheen is a prime example as he caught three touchdowns with the Miami Dolphins in 2020 and was given a two-year contract extension. Miller could have a breakout season now being paired with Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson in Houston. Pace is often criticized for his lack of success for his first-round draft selections but isn't given credit for his other draft successes. Whether it is finding numerous Pro Bowl talents after the third round or trading draft picks for failed drafted players, Chicago's general manager knows how to find and sell talent. If Fields becomes successful, Pace will be viewed as one of the better general managers in the NFL, with his other drafting talent solidifying it.