Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace Evolution: Cornerback
How has Ryan Pace shaped the cornerback position as GM of the Chicago Bears?
Ryan Pace is set to enter year four as the GM of the Chicago Bears. He now has had his hands on every major decision that this roster has had to have made. With that said it is a good time to look back at everything he has done so far to evolve the Bears roster.
We have looked at quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight end, tackles, guards, centers, defensive line, edge and linebacker.
Today, we will look at the cornerback position.
2015:
Kyle Fuller, Tracy Porter, Alan Ball, Sherrick McManis, Bryce Callahan
Pace inherited Fuller, Ball and McManis. He gave Porter a significant deal and relied on him to start for what turned out to be the last two years of his career. Not the best signing.
However, Callahan joins John Timu and Jonathan Anderson in what turned into an excellent UDFA haul for the first time GM.
2016:
Kyle Fuller, Tracy Porter, Jacoby Glenn, Jonathan Banks, Bryce Callahan, Cre’Veon LeBlanc
The team was set on Fuller taking a step forward in his second year of a new defense. Unfortunately, he missed the entire season with injury. This put the spotlight on how little Pace invested in this position so far.
Porter began to become expose and Glenn, Banks and LeBlanc, who was brought in off of the Patriot practice squad. Fortunately, LeBlanc has stuck around as a depth piece.
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2017:
Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Marcus Cooper, Bryce Callahan, Cre’Von LeBlanc
The team declined the fifth-year option of Kyle Fuller, which made plenty of sense at the time. However, they finally invested in something else across from him. Between Amukamara and Cooper they were hoping that if at least one could stick across from Fuller that would be great.
2018:
Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Bryce Callahan, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Marcus Cooper, Kevin Toliver
Amukamara emerged as a starter, and Pace re-signed the inherited Fuller and the acquired Amukamara. Callahan remains starting in the slot, and LeBlanc holds up the back end.
A name to add into the mix this year is Kevin Toliver, a UDFA from LSU. Pace has been able to dig deep for CB talent in the past with Callahan being a prime example.
This still has been one of the weaknesses for Pace so far. Fuller is his best asset and is a player he inherited. Amukamara was a strong signing so far, but is only in year two. We will see how Toliver develops for the Chicago Bears.