Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace inherited a mess in January 2015.
The Bears -- a three-time division winner and Super Bowl runner-up under Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo -- completely lost their way following Smith’s dismissal after the 2012 season, a year in which the Bears finished 10-6 but failed to reach the playoffs.
Pace, who hired veteran coach John Fox to replace Marc Trestman, faced the daunting task of rebuilding a franchise that bottomed out on and off the field under the previous regime.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Bears have given out the fourth-most guaranteed money ($140,585,000) in the NFL since Pace assumed control three years ago.
Unfortunately, the Bears' willingness to spend money has not led to more victories.
Pace and Fox, who was fired following the 2017 season, combined to win only 14 games (6-10, 3-13, 5-11) together. As a franchise, the Bears have finished dead last in the NFC North four consecutive seasons and have missed the postseason 10 of the past 11 years.
With a new coach, Matt Nagy, on board, the Bears are poised to -- again -- be active in free agency next month. Next season’s salary cap won’t be officially set until March, but the Bears currently have around $43 million worth of available cap space, according to ESPN’s Roster Management System.
A review of the past three offseasons shows that Pace has hit on a couple of free-agent deals, but most signings haven’t worked out as planned. Perhaps he learned some lessons that could apply to next month's free-agent frenzy. (Note: The following list includes only key signings.)
2017
QB Mike Glennon
Contract: Three years, $45 million (guarantee: $18.5 million)
Outcome: Arguably Pace’s worst free-agent decision. The Bears totally miscalculated on Glennon, who turned the ball over eight times in four starts and lost his starting job in Week 5 to Mitchell Trubisky. Glennon is expected to be one and done in Chicago.
Contract: Two years, $11 million (guarantee: $6 million)
Outcome: Wheaton finished the year with three catches for 31 yards. The veteran receiver underwent an emergency appendectomy and finger surgery last summer -- Wheaton was inactive for the first two weeks of the regular season -- and then missed three games in October with a groin injury. There’s little chance the Bears bring Wheaton back next year at $5 million.
TE Dion Sims
Contract: Three years, $18 million (true guarantee: $6 million)
Outcome: Sims wasn’t much of a factor in the passing game with only 15 catches for 180 yards and one touchdown. Sims’ $6 million base salary for 2018 becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year. That’s a lot of money to pay a tight end with only 89 career receptions (over five seasons).
Contract: Three years, $16 million (true guarantee: $6 million)
Outcome: Cooper quickly fell out of favor last year. Cooper, who made $6 million last year, was expected to be a full-time fixture in Chicago’s secondary, but ended up starting only a handful of games. Cooper’s $5 million base salary for 2018 becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year. It’s unlikely Cooper collects that money.
Contract: Three years, $13.5 million (guarantee: $5 million)
Outcome: Demps played in three games before being placed on season-ending injured reserve. He doesn’t seem to have a role with the Bears moving forward.
Contract: One year, $7 million (fully guaranteed)
Outcome: Amukamara had a respectable season with 49 tackles and seven pass breakups. It’s unclear, however, if the Bears plan to re-sign him. Amukamara failed to intercept a pass for the second season in a row.
Re-signing their own: In late August, the Bears signed left tackle Charles Leno to a four-year extension that contained $18 million in guarantees. The move made sense. Leno is a young player, 26, who plays a premium position on the offensive line. Quality left tackles don’t come cheap. Leno has never been voted to a Pro Bowl, but he’s good enough to protect Trubisky’s blind side.
2016
DL Akiem Hicks
Contract: Two years, $10 million (guarantee: $5 million)
Outcome: Hicks is the best free agent signed in the Pace era. Hicks had 71 tackles and seven sacks in 2016 and followed that up with 53 tackles and a career-high 8.5 sacks last year. The Bears and Hicks agreed to a four-year, $48 million extension with $30 million in guarantees last September. Hicks should be a defensive cornerstone for years to come.
Contract: Four years, $28 million (guarantee: $12 million)
Outcome: Trevathan is a productive and instinctive inside linebacker with 164 tackles since joining the Bears. Trevathan’s problem has been durability. He’s missed 11 games (one due to suspension) over the past two seasons. When healthy, Trevathan is a quality defender.
Contract: Three years, $12.25 million (guarantee: $6 million)
Outcome: Freeman is a mixed bag. The veteran linebacker led the Bears in tackles in 2016, but he’s appeared in only 13 games total for Chicago. Freeman has twice been suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, and -- by Freeman’s own admission -- may be finished playing football because of the concussion he suffered in Chicago’s Week 1 loss to Atlanta.
RT Bobby Massie
Contract: Three years, $18 million (guarantee: $6.5 million)
Outcome: Massie is a serviceable right tackle who’s started 30 games for the Bears. Massie is out of guaranteed money, but can collect a $1 million roster bonus on the third day of the league year. It’s worth noting that the Bears kicked the tires on free-agent right tackles last offseason, but ultimately stuck with Massie.
OG Josh Sitton
Contract: Two years, $ 13 million (guarantee: $9.5 million)
Outcome: Sitton was named to the Pro Bowl in 2016, but his overall impact on Chicago’s offensive line has been marginal. The Bears hold an option on Sitton, 31 years old, for 2018 that can be worth up to $8 million. The Bears have until the start of next month’s league year to make their decision.
Re-signing their own: Instead of waiting to see how Kyle Long recovered from a torn shoulder labrum he suffered in the 2016 preseason, Pace opted instead to extend Long’s contract right before the regular season began and guaranteed him $30 million. Long has since played in only 18 games. He’s been forced to undergo numerous surgical procedures on his ankle, neck and shoulder. The Bears have not said when they expect Long to return in 2018. Pace also re-worked veteran pass-rusher Willie Young’s contract in the summer of 2016. Young, who picked up an extra $9 million in guaranteed money, had 7.5 sacks two years ago, but appeared in just four games last season. At 32, Young’s future with the Bears is unknown.
2015
OLB Pernell McPhee
Contract: Five years, $38.75 million (guarantee: $15.5 million)
Outcome: McPhee roared out of the gate in 2015, but quickly became a situational player because of his chronically bad knees. McPhee -- when healthy -- plays hard, but the Bears may be reluctant to pay him the $7.575 million he is due in 2018. McPhee has just 14 sacks as a member of the Bears.
WR Eddie Royal
Contract: Three years, $15 million (guarantee: $10 million)
Outcome: This signing just didn’t work out. Royal battled injuries during his entire stay in Chicago, appearing in just 18 games. The Bears released Royal last offseason. He’s out of the league.
S Antrel Rolle
Contract: Three years, $11.250 million (guarantee: $4.9 million)
Outcome: Another regrettable offseason move. Rolle (seven starts) lasted just one year with the Bears.