The Bernstein Brief: Ryan Pace's Night Is Wide Open
By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) Nobody's going to be mad at Bears general manager Ryan Pace on Thursday night, and that's one dubious advantage of running a team with so many obvious needs.
Somebody's certain to hate whatever the first-round pick is, actually, but anyone informed and attentive will watch the draft unfold and look for a consistent, reasonable plan. Pace can maneuver up for a coveted target, move down for more assets or select from any number of talented players at No. 11 overall.
Edge rusher, cornerback, safety, defensive tackle, offensive line, running back ... quarterback?
Any and all by the time the weekend is over. And a tight end, and maybe another receiver.
"This is the lifeblood of the organization and everyone understands what's at stake and how important these drafts are," Pace said of the weekend's operation.
He knows he has work to do and nine picks to either make or use as trade pieces.
The sport is designed to give lesser teams the chance to get better quickly, and each year some do. This is the Bears' turn, now, the time when being bad can slingshot back the other way. The missed tackles and missed field goals and missed blocks add up to more valuable selections starting with this evening's first round, and it's time to start getting this right.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. You can follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.