Emma: Ryan Pace Poised, Prepared For His First Bears Draft
By Chris Emma--
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- On the eve of the NFL Draft, rookie Bears general manager Ryan Pace oozed his usual confidence.
While Pace has experience in the New Orleans Saints' draft room, this will be his first as the man with the final call. So, how is he feeling going into Thursday evening, when he gets his chance to bolster the Bears' roster?
"This will be my first night before the draft as a general manager, so I'll have to answer that later," Pace joked. "I sleep pretty well. The hay is in the barn. We've gone through every scenario. Our board is stacked correctly. I'm going to sleep well."
The hand-picked hire for Pace, head coach John Fox, sees a lot in his new boss. Preparation for the draft has been a long, grueling process for the longtime scouting mind and his team.
In leading to Thursday, Pace has been thorough in his work while maintaining that youthful enthusiasm.
"He's not a first-year personnel man," Fox said of his 37-year-old boss. "He's been in the business for a long time, he just happens to be young, he started young. He's sharp, he's got a great personality for it."
Pace's first draft as general manager brings with it the seventh overall pick and several options for the Bears. Following a disappointing 5-11 season and with so many holes on the roster, Chicago can go just about any direction with its draft choice.
The Bears are fielding calls about trading both up or down in the draft order, Pace said Wednesday. In the meantime, Chicago personnel is preparing as if it will make that first-round pick as schedule. That primary scenario lists the top seven players on the board.
"I feel certain with how we have them," Pace said. "There will be a couple things every year that should surprise you. Hey, when that happens, that's a good thing, because there are players being pushed down to us. I feel confident and certain where we have our guys stacked in front of us. As far as projecting what other teams will do, who knows?"
During this offseason, the Bears have entertained many possibilities for their draft pick, welcoming in a lengthy list of prospects to Halas Hall for pre-draft visits. Former NFL coach and current NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci believes Chicago could look at receivers Amari Cooper and Kevin White or an edge rusher like Kentucky's Bud Dupree or Florida's Dante Fowler.
When asked specifically about the receiver and defensive end spots, Pace admitted there's intrigue relative to the Bears' needs. Chicago could complement Alshon Jeffery with another standout target or continue to provide depth to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's new-look 3-4 defense.
"When you're picking in the top 10, you're hoping and you're confident (that) you're going to get a impact player that's going to get this franchise rolling," Pace said.
Additionally, Pace pointed out his belief that the Saints' 2006 draft that he assisted with helped win the franchise a Super Bowl three years later. It was a group that included Reggie Bush, Roman Harper and Rob Ninkovich, plus Zach Strief and Marques Colston in the seventh round. Pace's predecessors at Halas Hall failed the Bears' roster with an inability to find late-round steals.
When pressed by reporters for specific names and interests, Pace was mum on details, even joking that he would discuss with each media member over beers when the process is completed. However, Pace is keeping a poker face for his first draft in charge.
Pace admitted that he's excited to soon explore downtown Chicago for just the second time since moving in January. Everything is new for Pace with his unfamiliar surroundings, but first comes the test that makes or breaks general managers.
This NFL Draft will be crucial for Pace and his Bears.
"It's different when you're the guy making the choices, but it's a collaborative effort," Pace said. "I'm confident. The confidence comes from the preparation and time we put into this."
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.
