Change is inevitable when a new regime takes over. Nobody is safe. That became clear from the moment GM Ryan Poles took over. He promised he was going to build this team through the draft. A lot of people weren’t ready to believe him. Well, they better be now. The Chicago Bears reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Chargers for star pass rusher Khalil Mack according to Ian Rapoport.
The compensation nets the Bears two draft picks including a 2nd rounder this year and a 6th rounder in 2023. This gives Chicago six picks for 2022 including two in the 2nd round. Far more flexibility than they had 24 hours ago. Plenty of Bears fans won’t be happy with that haul, but facts are facts. Mack is 31-years old and is coming off season-ending foot surgery. His decline has been evident for two years now. The Bears need to start fresh on defense.
This was a painful move but an understandable one.
Sources: The #Bears are closing in on a trade of star pass-rusher Khalil Mack, sending him to the Los Angeles Chargers for prime draft pick compensation.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2022
The arms race in the AFC West is on. The #Chargers are loading up to go get QBs, and of course they have one of their own.
So, Khalil Mack to the #Chargers for a 2nd rounder this year and a 6th rounder next year.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2022
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
From a short-term perspective, this move hurts the Bears. When healthy, Khalil Mack is an undeniable presence that offenses must account for. However, there is plenty of logic in this move. By trading him, not only does Poles get two more draft picks but also $6 million in cap space this year and $28 million in 2023. He is setting the team up to do some serious roster overhauling in the next calendar year.
The cold reality is the Bears aren’t competing for a championship in 2022. Poles must keep an eye on the big picture. Mack’s value will only go down from here. By dealing him now, he gets something decent in return. Meanwhile, the Bears still have Robert Quinn as their primary pass rusher with an ascending Trevis Gipson ready to become a starter. That money and those draft picks can then be put into helping Justin Fields on the offensive side.
