Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace’s Evolution: Quarterback

How has the Chicago Bears quarterback position evolved over the Ryan Pace era?

As Ryan Pace is about to enter year four it will be very interesting to see what the roster looks like now compared to how he had inherited it. This series will do just that by projecting the depth chart in August, and seeing how it changed from August of 2015.

To start, quarterbacks.

2015:

Jay Cutler, Jimmy Clausen, David Fales

The defense was coming off of an all-time low, but Jay Cutler did put up numbers in 2014. Add in where Cutler was in terms of his contract and Pace knew walking in that Cutler was his 2015 quarterback.

Clausen and Fales did not necessarily present a stable cupboard either.

2016:

Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer, Matt Barkley

Say what you want but identifying the fact that the room as a whole was poor and doing something about it is at the least a step in the right direction.

Hoyer is a competent quarterback, even if that means at the backup level. Jimmy Clausen and David Fales are not on the same tier. Barkley even showed some competence in his playing time that came due to injuries.

2017:

Mike Glennon, Mitchell Trubisky, Mark Sanchez

It is going to sound like a defense of Ryan Pace but the fact of the matter is that for the most part, he upgraded this room in the best way he knew how.

In 2016, he identified the need for the talent behind Cutler. Now, Pace identified that picking as high as they were presented a rare chance to change the direction.

Pace signed Glennon, which looked like a bad idea at first. However, investing in the high upside of Trubisky rather than looking to bridge a decent quarterback into success was the right thing to do.

Pace took his shot and the fact of the matter is that the team went from committed to Cutler to committed to Trubisky overnight.

Looking back Glennon was hardly overpaid given where the Bears stand. He served as a team captain, and Trubisky mentioned both Glennon and Sanchez as stable off of the field helpers when it came to maturing the inexperienced quarterback.

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The only gripe I have with Pace is letting John Fox suppress Trubisky so much in the preseason. That was a chance to let him rip and the team did not take advantage.

Still, Pace brought in two well-spoken backups to enhance the entire room and show his new franchise face the ropes.

2018:

Mitchell Trubisky, Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray

Now, the transformation is complete. This is Trubisky’s room. Daniel and Bray are perfect backup options to once again enhance the entire room.

Daniel and Bray both know the offense like the back of their hand. Daniel had experience with Andy Reid, Matt Nagy, and Ryan Pace is his past. Bray has now followed Nagy through his career.

Both are non-threatening to become starters, but are more knowledgeable about the offense Trubisky is trying to learn than Trubisky is. They should be incredible helping hands for the young quarterback.

This is only part one, and mistakes and issues of Pace will be unveiled. However, from year four of what is this to year four of everybody having a defined role in the room is pretty impressive.

His ability to make this upgrades quickly and not to be shy about scrapping players like Clausen, Cutler, and Glennon to enhance the overall room is impressive.