In Chicago, Barry Rozner wrote Bears GM Ryan Pace has "nuzzled up" to team Chair George McCaskey and now has "full control of the operation with permission from the owner." However, coach John Fox "seems to be on the outside looking in." The Bears traded up to No. 2 and selected QB Mitchell Trubisky, and if Pace is "wrong, he won't have a long career here." But he has the "owner in his pocket and that's a great way to keep your job, especially considering it will be years before anyone can judge Trubisky" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 4/30). Also in Chicago, David Haugh wrote Pace "established himself as the most impactful -- and polarizing -- person at Halas Hall." The "emergence of Pace as the newest pinata in town dominated the weekend for the Bears." Pace's third draft "unquestionably goes down as his most unorthodox" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/30).
ON TOP OF THEIR GAME: In DC, Jerry Brewer wrote the Redskins' front office "made sensible decision after sensible decision" in the Draft, "exhibiting a continuity of thought despite a chaotic alteration to the leadership structure." It "doesn’t mean" that the Redskins will survive the debacle surrounding former GM Scot McCloughan's departure "without suffering." Brewer: "But you are left to wonder how negative it will be and when exactly the slippage might occur" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/30).
GOOD FIRST TIME AROUND: In Sacramento, Matt Barrows wrote 49ers GM John Lynch did not "look like an amateur" in his first Draft. Lynch was the "conductor of the 49ers’ orchestra, the one making the decisions and the one who articulated the team’s vision and thought process to the public." Lynch and new 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan traded six times over the three-day period, "defying their novice statuses." Only the Vikings, "with seven deals, traded more." Those extra picks "could be handy for maneuvering next year" (SACBEE.com, 4/30).
TWO-MAN SHOW: In Philadelphia, Mike Sielski writes under the header, "Eagles Are Building For Future -- With Or Without (Coach) Doug Pederson." The Draft was Eagles Exec VP/Football Operations Howie Roseman and VP/Player Personnel Joe Douglas' "show, their exchanged glances and the awkward anecdotes about their collaboration reaffirming how closely they had worked together and how relatively small Pederson's role had been" (PHILLY.com, 5/1).
