Earlier this week I ranked the top free agents the Bears have signed since Ryan Pace became general manager in 2015. I also encouraged fans to rank the list as well, and here are the results of their voting:

Hicks garnered 46 percent of the votes cast by fans, making him a decisive choice for the top free agent signed by Pace. It's the same spot I had Hicks, who has been the heart and soul of the Bears defense since he arrived in 2016.

While I had Amukamara fifth on my list, fans showed him more love, selecting him second with 29 percent of the vote. Although the veteran was released Feb. 21 to free up salary-cap space, he had three solid seasons with the Bears.

I considered ranking Robinson first but ultimately decided to put him second because he has only played two seasons with the Bears versus four for Hicks. I was somewhat surprised that Robinson drew only 18 percent of the vote from the fans given his performance the past two years, especially on an offense in 2019 that otherwise regressed.

The fans and I both ranked Patterson in the fourth spot after his impressive first season with the Bears in which he earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a kickoff returner and special-teams player. He will probably rise on this list, especially if his role expands on offense, a possibility that Pace alluded to at the Combine.

While I voted Trevathan as the third best free agent the Bears have signed since 2015, the fans ranked him fifth. That surprises me a little bit given that he's been a productive team leader who has played an instrumental role in the success of the Bears defense the past four seasons.

The fans and I both ranked Massie in the sixth spot. Solid but not spectacular, Massie has been a staple on the Bears offensive line the past four seasons, starting all 56 games he's played. The line didn't perform as well late last year after he sustained an ankle injury that forced him to miss the final five games.