Chicago Bears still confident in Kyle Long

Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace met with the media to start the NFL combine and touched on a variety of topics, including Kyle Long

Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace met with reporters for a little over 20 minutes on Tuesday and touched on a variety of topics. It has always been speculated that at the NFL combine is when you will hear the most about a team’s true idea of direction because from when all of the teams gather in Indianapolis on, rumors and reports are exchanged and plans change.

So, with that in mind, every little nugget of information from Ryan Pace could be extrapolated into what he and his staff has been discussing for the two month stretch between the end of the season and now.

When asked about the status of Kyle Long, and where he is, Pace mentioned that the team “feels good.”

When asked if his health and status added to the team moving on from Josh Sitton, Pace added that it was “part of the equation.”

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It is obviously not a direct correlation, but every media pundit and Bears follower alike had a feeling that whether it be Sitton or Long, the duo would not be back. Long has a bigger cap hit and an injury history, but Sitton has less upside and no long-term future beyond this season. The team will not move on from both starting guards, as Pace said the team is currently building up and not tearing down, despite the cuts. So, it is clear that the Chicago Bears are confident in Long and his health not only for the next season but also into his contract that goes into 2021.

Cody Whitehair

Pace was also asked about moving Whitehair back to guard. He did not necessarily shut the idea down and mentioned that how the rest of the roster fills out will have to add to this decision. However, he did say that it is “important to settle into one spot” so the team will be looking to make the decision immediately after the draft at the latest, and will stick to this decision for the long haul.

This does not mean the team is banking on Quenton Nelson at the eighth overall pick. But, the vibe around the Ryan Pace press conference was that an interior lineman of some position would be drafted again this year.

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