Right now the Chicago Bears are focused on their next game in Denver. This is not a surprise. They have work to do. However, it's never a crime to look ahead. Especially for a GM. Ryan Pace isn't dumb. He probably already sees a number of issues cropping up with his roster. Issues that he will have to fix in the NFL draft since money will be hard to come by in 2020. The problem is, while the team has seven picks overall, they have none in the 1st, 3rd, or 4th rounds.
They do have two 2nd round choices courtesy of the Oakland Raiders trade involving Khalil Mack. After that though there isn't another choice until the 5th round. This puts a lot of pressure on Pace to hit on those two picks. If he doesn't, the odds of finding difference-makers on Day 3 are remote, even with his impressive track record. This leads to curiosity over whether the GM may try to fill his coffers with more selections before next April.
The only way this can be done is via trade. Either he'd have to trade down with one of those 2nd round picks in the draft itself, or he'd have to trade a player on the current roster. When the year began this seemed like an unlikely scenario since there was nobody of note who could catch a favorable price. After watching the opener against the Green Bay Packers? That has rapidly changed.
Ryan Pace will have big decisions on Floyd and Robertson-Harris
Two of the big stars of the night were defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. The former had a sack and two tackles for a loss, dominating the line of scrimmage for much of the night. Floyd had two sacks of his own, getting off to the best start of his NFL career. Why is this significant? Much of it depends on how the rest of the season progresses for them.
Both Floyd and Robertson-Harris are entering critical times of their careers. A time when their second and potentially most lucrative contracts come into focus. Each will enter the final years of their current deals in 2020. Floyd on his 5th-year option while Robertson-Harris will be a restricted free agent. Keeping both of those players may prove impossible. As of now, the team is looking at being over $5 million in the red at the start of next year.
Even with a cap rollover and another spike in the overall ceiling, they'll still be limited on money. Their odds of keeping even one of those players may be impossible. If Floyd finished 2019 strong with double-digit sacks, he'll be in line for a massive extension. Pass rushers earn a premium in the NFL and the Bears are already paying a ton of money to Khalil Mack.
So this gives Pace two options.
Does he let Floyd play out his final year and become a free agent, possibly getting a compensatory pick in 2021? Or does he strike while the iron is hot and attempt to trade Floyd to a team in need of rush help? This has proven to be a fruitful market in recent history. This past offseason the Kansas City Chiefs traded Dee Ford to San Francisco in return for a 2nd round pick. Then the Seattle Seahawks traded Frank Clark and a 3rd round pick to Kansas City for 1st and 3rd round selections.
There is always a robust market for pass rushers. There's no reason to think Pace couldn't get a similar deal for Floyd. Perhaps a 2nd round pick or 3rd and 5th rounders like Houston got for Jadeveon Clowney. It depends on if Floyd finishes as strong as he's started the season. The better he plays, the higher his value goes.
Robertson-Harris will be a bit of a challenge.
Technically the Bears wouldn't be able to outright "trade" him because he'll be a free agent. What the team will have is something called the right of first refusal. In other words, they'll be free to match any deal a team makes to Robertson-Harris if they so wish. Pace though could make a deal with that team. Give us some compensation and we won't match the deal. Perhaps a 4th or 5th round pick. That way the team gets their guy at a price they want while the Bears get extra draft capital.
Granted, a team could make a strong financial push to make it where the Bears can't possibly match the deal. However, this too would end up working in Pace's favor. Such an instance would virtually guarantee a compensatory pick in 2021. Depending on the team involved, giving up a minor pick might be worth it in exchange for saving some money on the contract.
It's a long shot, but hardly impossible. Much of this depends on what Pace wants to do. If he followed this course, he could add two or even three more picks to his arsenal next April.
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