Ryan Pace Evolution: Edge Rusher

How has the edge rusher position evolved since Ryan Pace took over as General Manager of the Chicago Bears?

Ryan Pace has now been the General Manager of the Chicago Bears for four whole offseasons. With that in mind it is a good chance to look back at what all he has done since he has initially gotten his hands dirty with the team.

We have looked at the quarterback room, running backs, receivers, tight ends, tackle, guard, center and the defensive line. Now, we shift our focus to the edge rusher position.

2015:

Pernell McPhee, Willie Young, Lamarr Houston, Sam Acho, Jared Allen

Allen, Young, and Houston were leftovers from the previous regime. Many questioned how the three would fit, given the team went under a massive scheme change. While Allen was not going to last due to his age or the scheme, Young and Houston took the move in stride and were able to stick around in the new defense.

McPhee and Acho were the new acquisitions. McPhee was the big swing. The underrated pass rusher who has lived in the shadows of Terrell Suggs was finally going to break out with his new team. Of course, that is how Pace saw it, now how it turned out. Still, injuries are the main source as to why, and it is not a mis evaluation talent wise.

Acho proved to be a strong signing as he has been a starter and consistent depth piece on the roster.

2016:

Leonard Floyd, Sam Acho, Willie Young, Pernell McPhee, Lamarr Houston

With the hope of McPhee on one side, Pace swung again for the fences on Leonard Floyd to transition opposite of him. The two look nice beside each other on paper. McPhee with power and Floyd with speed, the duo could make real noise.

2017:

Leonard Floyd, Sam Acho, Willie Young, Pernell McPhee, Isaiah Irving

The team did not make any major moves to upgrade. The hope was that health of McPhee and progression of Floyd would be enough. Of course, health came around on both of them and pretty much all of the roster.

UDFA addition Isaiah Irving got some burn and the team even brought back Lamarr Houston to close out the season.

2018:

Leonard Floyd, Sam Acho, Aaron Lynch, Kylie Fitts, Isaiah Irving

Coming in this was a position of question, and four years later it remains the biggest issue on the team. The McPhee miss really set the team back. On top of that, Floyd is now recovering from an ACL injury and is entering a crucial third year.

Acho has consistently stuck around and while injury ruined any chance Irving had to make noise last year, he will be back.

The (big?) additions this year are Kylie Fitts and Aaron Lynch. Lynch has a run stuffing floor and Fitts has a high pass rushing ceiling. Of course, both come with injury concerns and in the case of Lynch, effort questions, but there is at least some sort of promise there.

Still, it feels as though this progression will bleed into year five.