Chicago Bears NFL Draft 2021: Crippling mistakes Ryan Pace must avoid
By Ryan Heckman
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace cannot mortgage future draft picks
…for a position not-named quarterback
Last year, the Bears traded a 2021 fourth-round pick as part of a package to move up and select edge rusher Trevis Gipson. The problem with that trade is that the Bears were fine at that position. They already had Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn, and had other positions of need to fill.
Gipson hardly played as a rookie and now, the Bears are left without a pick in the fourth round this year.
When it comes to this year’s draft strategy, the only time Pace should be trading away a future pick is if it’s for a quarterback. That’s it. That is the only scenario which is acceptable to mortgage future picks.
Pace has been pretty liberal with his mid-round picks as of late, trading a fourth rounder away last year for Nick Foles before he dealt another one for Gipson. The Bears have holes at offensive tackle, wide receiver, cornerback, safety and quarterback. Those are weaknesses that need to be addressed.
Whether the Bears are able to address them all this year remains to be seen, but if Pace trades away any more future picks for a non-quarterback, he’ll be weakening the team going forward.