For the first time as Bears general manager, Ryan Pace will enter an offseason with his team coming off a winning record. The Bears don’t have the kind of massive, glaring needs they did in years past. These next few months will be about improving an NFC North-winning roster, either shrewdly or boldly.
But from this week, when preparations for the NFL Draft begin in earnest at the Senior Bowl, to a day before the regular season starts in September, Pace will still have an important to-do list to accomplish. The Bears’ resources will be limited — about $25 million in cap space after Dion Sims is released, and no first- or second-round picks.