Con No. 1: Ryan Pace’s struggles in free agency and cap hurt the Chicago Bears
Overall, Pace’s free agency has been very hit-or-miss. You see major misses like Pernell McPhee, Mike Glennon, Jimmy Graham, Trey Burton, and Andy Dalton. But, he does have some major hits like Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan, Josh Sitton, Allen Robinson, and Robert Quinn.
Overall, his main issue in free agency is overpaying. He constantly overpays for mediocre talent and that is his major downfall. Sometimes it hits, but too often he misses poorly like McPhee. This could have been much worse as well if Quinn wasn’t playing at the current level he is playing at.
In doing all these free agency misses, the Bears aren’t in a great place for cap space currently with tons of dead cap coming their way due to players whose money was pushed down the line for the future. They still have good cap space for next season, but they could have much more with better choices.
Again, no general manager is perfect, but Pace has struggled greatly in that department. I will give it to him though, he is very good at finding discounted free agents and undrafted free agents who become starters like Roy Robertson-Harris, Prince Amukamara, Alec Ogletree, or Mario Edwards and good depth pieces like Germain Ifedi, Cornelius Lucas, Alex Bars, Jesper Horsted, Sam Mustipher, and Angelo Blackson.