Chicago Bears: 15 best NFL Draft Picks of the 2010’s
By Usayd Koshul
DT. 57. 14. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 2011, Round 2, 53rd overall. Stephen Paea
Another defensive lineman that was one of the more underrated defensive players for the Bears throughout the last decade, Stephen Paea was stout in the middle of the Bears 4-3 defense for four seasons.
More from Da Windy City
- 3 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks shootout loss to Nashville
- Chicago Cubs in the middle of chaos that is Shohei Ohtani’s free agency
- The Chicago Cubs are on a roller coaster of emotions chasing Shohei Ohtani
- Chicago Bears quietly compiling list of head coaching candidates
- Chicago White Sox News: Erick Fedde signs two-year deal
He was an ideal run stopper that would easily plug up gaps allowing players on the second and third levels of the defense to quickly make plays. Over a four-year period in Chicago, Paea would have 12 sacks, 94 tackles, and 23 quarterback hits.
His best season came in 2014 when he notched six sacks and 12 quarterback hits while being a regular starter for the Bears on defense. However, once the 2015 offseason rolled around, the Bears current general manager Ryan Pace elected not to renew Paea’s contract.
What’s most interesting about Paea’s career year in 2014 is that he played less than 70 percent of snaps on defense all year. Although he’s a guy who was underrated and did make some plays, he was never the type of player who could consistently be relied on in critical situations to make game-changing plays however he did enough just to get the job done.
After his four-year stint with the Bears, Paea would play for the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, and Cleveland Browns but would last just one year on each team. He’d retire in 2017 being ranked 37th on the Bears all-time sacks list.