Why Roquan Smith will be the Bears' heartbeat and what that means for their defense

Bears general manager Ryan Pace was predictably ecstatic Saturday night, arriving in the Halas Hall media room with a big smile and a sense of accomplishment. Pace had reached the tail end of a crazy four months of change and improvement, a stretch he called "a blur." The 41-year-old GM has been busy since the new year began. Firing John Fox. Hiring Matt Nagy. Keeping Vic Fangio. Investing in free agency. Studying the draft.

The blur culminated Saturday with the Bears finalizing their seven-man draft class, and Pace remained his usual upbeat self. After drafting linebacker Roquan Smith on Thursday, Pace used the phrase "fired up" five times. After selecting offensive lineman James Daniels and receiver Anthony Miller on Friday, Pace declared it another great day. Then on Saturday, with four more pieces added to the puzzle, Pace said, "I couldn't be happier with the way the draft unfolded."

It will