Khalil Mack has played with several different edge rushers in his NFL career. One or two of them were okay like Bruce Irvin and Justin Tuck. Others like Leonard Floyd? Not so much. He still hasn’t had a chance to play with another pass rusher who is even in the same solar system as him in terms of talent and productivity. The closest he probably came was 2015 with Aldon Smith but by that point, the former 49ers star was on a downward spiral in his personal life. Nothing like the player he was three years prior.
Thus Mack has continued to wait. At last in his seventh season, he may finally have some real help.
GM Ryan Pace caught a lot of people by surprise when he signed veteran edge rusher Robert Quinn in free agency. This is a man with 80.5 sacks in his career and is coming off an 11.5-sack season in Dallas. When healthy he is one of the best quarterback hunters in the league. Somebody opponents won’t be able to ignore as they did with Floyd.
When asked about it during his first press conference of the year, Mack couldn’t contain his excitement.
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Khalil Mack is on a mission and now he has help
Everything about this offseason hints that Mack is not messing around. His latest Zoom meeting with the media is a perfect example. He held it while working out on a stair master. That falls right in line with what coaches have said. He’s practically living in the weight room. The guy appears to be in phenomenal shape and chomping at the bit to get this season started.
Given the caliber of player he is? This could end up being the best season of his career. Especially now that he has lots of help. Not only is Akiem Hicks back from his elbow injury last year, but Quinn will also join them on the opposite edge. If health prevails, this is possibly the best QB-hunting trio the Bears have fielded in over three decades.
No wonder Mack is so excited.
