(670 The Score) Fifteen years ago, Ryan Pace was a 29-year-old scout for the Saints when the team signed Drew Brees as its new quarterback. Pace rose through the ranks in New Orleans, finding his own personal gain through the success of Brees.
Pace certainly recognizes the rewards a franchise quarterback can bring. He just has never gotten it right on his own. Since being hired as Bears general manager in 2015, Pace has brought in Mike Glennon, Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles and passed on the likes of Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes, continually leaving Chicago without a franchise quarterback. That trend continued Tuesday.
The Bears made a "very aggressive pursuit" for Seahawks star quarterback Russell Wilson on the trade market recently, ESPN reported, but Seattle had no interest in dealing its seven-time Pro Bowler away even when presented with Chicago's best offer.
Instead, the Bears will sign veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to a one-year deal, according to a source. The contract, which will become official Wednesday, is worth $10 million and includes $3 million in incentives.
In the 33-year-old Dalton, the Bears are bringing in an upgrade to Foles but not a quarterback who alters the course of a franchise. After watching future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady lead the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship this past season, the Bears had dreams of making a similar big move. Instead, they settled for one of the quarterbacks they could realistically land this offseason.
Now, the Bears' only hope for transforming from an 8-8 team into a legitimate Super Bowl contender is by improving the offense around Dalton and hoping the defense can return to the dominant form that eluded it in 2020. Given Chicago's salary cap constraints, that will be difficult.
It's why there's such disappointment in Chicago regarding Dalton's addition. The Bears' best chance to climb out of mediocrity was with a bold move at quarterback, just the Buccaneers accomplished last March. Absent a deal for Wilson or Watson, the Bears are without much hope for great improvement in 2021.
Pace could've waited and pursued a trade for the Jets' Sam Darnold, the Panthers' Teddy Bridgewater or the Raiders' Derek Carr. But each rejected offer would only increase the likelihood of Foles being the Bears' starting quarterback for Week 1 in 2021, so Pace moved for Dalton.
Last March, the Bears passed on pursuing Dalton, who was available on the trade market before the Bengals eventually cut him in April. The Bears instead traded a fourth-round pick for Foles, with Pace believing he would challenge Trubisky better than Dalton. The old saying proved to be true for the Bears: When you have two quarterbacks, you have none.
Now, Dalton will either be named the Bears' starting quarterback or compete with Foles for the job. Neither accomplishes what Chicago hoped for this offseason.
The Bears could still draft a quarterback in the first round, where they hold the No. 20 overall pick. That would turn their focus beyond 2021, which team chairman George McCaskey set as a must-win season for Pace and coach Matt Nagy. Drafting a quarterback prospect would diminish expectations for 2021.
Pace has failed to change the Bears' course as a franchise because he has consistently faltered in finding a franchise quarterback. And that player isn't coming for this season.
Seven years in with the Bears, Pace has never found his Brees.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.