Bears sign Pace for $15 million

A couple of hours after the Bears locked up their franchise quarterback, Jay Cutler, they brought in future Hall of Fame left tackle Orlando Pace to protect him.

The deal with Pace is for $15 million over three years, with the 33-year-old, seven-time Pro Bowler scheduled to earn $6.1 million in the first year of the deal and $11 million in the first two. The Ravens had also made a deal to Pace that was for more money, according to an NFL source, but Baltimore wanted him to move to right tackle. The 6-foot-7, 325-pound Pace will remain at left tackle with the Bears, with last year's first-round pick, Chris Williams, moving to right tackle.

Pace, a 12-year veteran, was recently cut by the Rams to clear $6 million in salary-cap space. Although he has battled injuries in recent seasons, Pace was still considered the most proficient member of the Rams' offensive line last season, and the consensus among NFL scouts is that he still has plenty of gas in the tank.

The Bears' offensive line will look drastically different next season from top to bottom. They lost last year's starting right tackle, John Tait, to retirement. And last year's starting left tackle, John St. Clair, signed with the Browns as an unrestricted free agent.

But last month, the Bears signed unrestricted free-agent offensive lineman Frank Omiyale away from the Panthers, and they also added offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer shortly after he was cut by the Browns.

Before the start of free agency, the Bears were expected to address shortcomings on the offensive line, but that is no longer an urgent need. Wide receiver now is the team's weakest area, but the Bears won't have a first-round pick to address that, having sent it to Denver for Cutler.

The Bears won't pick until the middle of the second round (No. 49 overall) in the April 25 draft. While their own third-round selection (No. 84 overall) also goes to the Broncos, the Bears have a compensatory, third-round pick (No. 99) for losing Bernard Berrian in free agency last year. The Bears also have a fourth-rounder, two No. 5s, a 6 and two No. 7s.