With little time elapsed between the Bears’ spending spree in free agency and the annual owners meeting last month, general manager Ryan Pace was fresh off making some major additions.

As he talked about some of the work that went into some significant additions to the roster, Pace made it clear his focus was on what was ahead.

“We’ve got to nail the draft,” Pace said.

Sure, he was stating the obvious as the man who controls personnel decisions for an organization that has been mired too deep in free agency for a decade running. The Bears were as aggressive as they’ve ever been in the March shopping season when they paid a premium to sign wide receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, tight end Trey Burton, among others.

Maybe Pace was pointing the arrow forward as a reminder that for the Bears to finally emerge from the extended rebuilding phase they’ve been in, they need an influx of talented, young players on rookie contracts a year after the focus was on acquiring quarterback Mitch Trubisky, the quarterback they have pinned their hopes to.

Building blocks are in place and you can’t forget the Bears also invested in their own this offseason in re-signing cornerback Kyle Fuller, the final first-round pick of the Phil Emery era, and will likely explore a future commitment with nose tackle Eddie Goldman at some point this summer. But the Bears have been stuck in the basement of the NFC North because they’ve had a talent deficiency and more help is needed.

The club owns the eighth pick in the first round Thursday night, marking the fourth straight year the Bears have had a top-10 pick (Pace traded from No. 11 to No. 9 in 2016 to draft Leonard Floyd). That’s an ignominious distinction the Bears haven’t had since they picked in the top 10 from 1973 to 1976.

When Pace talks about nailing the draft, he recognizes that means doing more than finding a difference maker in Round 1, a player that can step in Day 1 and be a starter. The Bears also own the 39th pick in Round 2 (seventh pick of the round) and that’s a prime pick to find a really good football player. The question is will Pace hold on to the pick or perhaps use it to trade down? The Bears traded down in Round 2 the last two years. Two years ago, they wound up with offensive lineman Cody Whitehair, a solid move. Last year, they got tight end Adam Shaheen, and the Division II player has much remaining to prove.

One general manager and a national scout for other teams predicted a cluster of running backs at the top of Round 2. Whether that would create trade value for the Bears at No. 39 remains to be seen. If the Bears saw a running back they loved, they could grab one here and backs potentially in play in the top half of Round 2 include Georgia’s Sony Michel and Nick Chubb, USC’s Ronald Jones, Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson and possibly LSU’s Derrius Guice.

But if the Bears are adamant about Jordan Howard being the feature back this season – and that’s what coach Matt Nagy said he would be – then let’s look elsewhere. An edge defender is the team’s greatest need entering the draft and while there probably isn’t one that will be a fit at No. 8, the Bears would be fortunate to consider Ohio State’s Sam Hubbard in Round 2.

“He’d be a steal at that point in Round 2,” the national scout said. “He’s the perfect player to line up opposite Floyd. Kind of a lesser Ryan Kerrigan. He’s a really good player and would be the perfect fit for that defense and that city.”

If the Bears don’t select Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson in Round 1, and that’s far from a sure thing, might they look to add Josh Sitton’s replacement in Round 2? UTEP’s Will Hernandez, Arkansas’ Frank Ragnow and possibly Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn could be available. If the Bears came away with an inside linebacker at No. 8 and a left guard at No. 39, that would be a nice start.

There is need for a wide receiver. Robinson and Gabriel are a fine start but if you’re building around Trubisky, adding a talented young receiver is never a bad idea and Nagy more or less admitted the team needed to after Cameron Meredith departed. There could be plenty of options as the national scout predicted only two wide receivers – Alabama’s Calvin Ridley and Maryland’s D.J. Moore – go in Round 1.

“Your vision can change when you have need,” the national scout said. “Rose colored glasses can all of a sudden turn dark pink when you have a pressing need.”

Then there are at least two players that could fall out of Round 1 because of off-field issues. Central Florida cornerback Mike Hughes transferred from North Carolina two years ago after being accused of sexual assault that did not lead to charges. LSU pass rusher Arden Key had 12 sacks as a sophomore in 2016 but was a mess last season when his weight ballooned to 270 pounds, at least 30 pounds more than he played at the year before. Key dealt with a shoulder injury and spent time in rehabilitation during the spring so there’s an awful lot of baggage to consider.

The Bears have had plenty of success in Round 2 in recent years. A pair of former second-round picks, running back Matt Forte and returner Devin Hester, officially retired as Bears on Monday at Halas Hall. That ceremony was attended by cornerback Charles Tillman, another second-round find.

Pace needs to nail his second-round pick with a player of similar impact to really feel good about this draft.

bmbiggs@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs