Did Ryan Pace find another 5th round gem for Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Nobody is absolving Ryan Pace of his issues because it is clear that he has strengths and weaknesses as the Chicago Bears GM. Beyond quarterback, a big weakness has been handing out contracts to veterans when they may not be warranted, but his biggest strength by far is drafting on day three of the NFL draft. Particularly he has made a living in round five, which he has boasted about in the past.

Pace has drafted Adrian Amos, Jordan Howard, Bilal Nichols, and Darnell Mooney in the fifth round. Impressively enough it appears as though he has yet another gem emerging in Trevis Gipson.

Gipson was inactive in week one but has exploded onto the scene in the past two weeks. He put up two pressures last week, and added four and a sack against the Lions.

The Bears traded a future fifth to take Gipson in the fifth, so the investment meant that Pace really saw something here. Still, while his rookie year was extremely quiet it was worth being patient with the idea of him being a pick that they would not have had until this season anyways.

If you consider his 2020 a redshirt, and his 2021 a rookie season, you are seeing a breakout as he has become accustomed to the NFL. Last year at this time he was losing a helmet to James Vaughters, who is on a practice squad now.

When you add in Gipson to Robert Quinn, who is having a bounce-back year, and Khalil Mack, this edge group officially looks deeper than it ever has in the Pace era.

It is easy to pile on Pace, who certainly has made plenty of mistakes. Still, it is impressive that he continues to find these players, and the addition of Gipson into the mix cannot be lost because it is a great addition and much needed.

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