Emma: Ryan Pace Must Draft Bears Back To Sustainability

By Chris Emma--

INDIANAPOLIS (CBS) -- Ever eager to work, Bears general manager Ryan Pace was buzzing as he entered Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday morning.

The NFL Combine is underway, the next phase in the Bears' big offseason. A longtime scout before ascending to run the Bears' football department, Pace was right in his element.

"Exciting time of year," were the first words out of Pace's mouth.

Pace is raring to go work, and how could he not be excited?

Following a 6-10 first season in Chicago, Pace gets to take the first real steps in his blueprint for the Bears' future. His team was stuck with limited cap space and too many needs last offseason. The one-win improvement was mostly a credit to coach John Fox's ability in changing the locker room culture, because much of the roster Pace inherited remained in place.

Now, Pace can truly begin building. The Bears have approximately $60 million in cap space and nine draft picks at their disposal. So begins the scouting process.

"Really, the next three months, we have a great opportunity to significantly improve our team," Pace said. "I'm looking forward to it."

With free-agent priorities in mind, Pace can begin filling holes on the roster -- and there are many -- beginning in March. When the NFL Draft arrives in late April, he'll have a better feeling for the priority positions. Still, his team needs homegrown depth. Playing countless undrafted free agents last season was a statement to the Bears' lack of depth and the poor drafting that caused it.

The term "best player available" will be said often when referring to the Bears, a team with so many needs across the board. Pace needs to hit on draft picks early and late in order to bring the franchise out of the massive hole dug by former executives Jerry Angelo and Phil Emery. It's up to Pace to make up for years of bad drafting.

At the NFL Combine, Pace, Fox, Josh Lucas, Joe Douglas and the Bears brass will be all over the place scouting. They need thorough evaluations on just about every player in Indianapolis.

When the 11th pick of the draft arrives, the Bears can go many directions. Defensive standouts like Reggie Ragland, Vernon Hargreaves, A'Shawn Robinson and Myles Jack will intrigue Pace. Adding a workhorse running back like Ezekiel Elliott could be an option, too.

Frankly, the Bears just need to improve their overall talent level -- and Pace hasn't hidden that fact.

"You're looking at guys that can make critical, game-changing plays at critical moments," Pace said. "When the game's on the line and it's the fourth quarter.

"We need more of those types of player."

There's genuine optimism in Pace's tone. He has resources and draft picks available to make the Bears a legitimate playoff contender in 2016. The roster will look dramatically different come training camp in Bourbonnais.

Taking that next step to bringing the Bears a perennial Super Bowl contender will take time, fortunes and good decisions by Pace, but he's thrilled for the challenge. He's experienced glory in the Saints' front office. Now comes a greater opportunity to do it as general manager.

With the foundation set, the Bears must build through the draft -- the lifeblood for any team to reach football's super pinnacle.

Pace is loving every part of the climb.

In:
• NFL Combine