Chicago Bears NFL Draft: 3 mistakes Pace can’t make

Drafting Need Over Best Player Available

So many general managers claim their draft philosophy is to draft the best player available. However, the reality is when they do so, they’re being about as honest as we all are when we tell the doctor we only have 1-2 drinks, once a month.

Now, I think they all start out with that intent, but it’s inevitable that the thought of filling out your roster with a need will creep into your head. And that’s natural — I mean if each time you pick a running back is the best player available, you wouldn’t take a running back with every pick.

But the idea is not to then reach for another player who fills a more pressing need. When you do, you end up with selecting a player like Adam Shaheen. There’s little doubt in my mind that Pace had visions dancing in his head of Shaheen being paired with Mitchell Trubisky, the franchise quarterback he selected one round earlier, and tearing up the NFC North.

It’s hard to argue, at least with a straight face, that Shaheen was the best player available. He wasn’t. But Pace drafted a perceived need instead. This kind of approach can quickly lead to a roster full of draft busts. Instead, Pace needs to take the best talent available with each pick and figure out how to make the pieces work later. Never pass on a 10 because you think you need a 7 more at that moment.