A Chicago Bears trade feels like the only way the team has a chance to help what is once again one of the worst offenses in the NFL. Scoring three points on Monday night in Los Angeles had to get the attention of GM Ryan Pace. How could it not? It was ugly from start to finish. Per usual head coach Matt Nagy was under fire from both fans and the media for his questionable play calling.
The truth is though he’s at the mercy of one of the worst offensive lines this team has fielded in years. A group that was so reliable in 2018 has fallen into complete disrepair. It was bad enough when they were all healthy. When James Daniels, their left guard and best blocker tore his pec? It seemed to get 10 times worse.
Does Pace really think he can let this continue?
It makes one wonder how serious the Bears are about making a run in 2020. Their unwillingness to bring in help to this point is alarming. People use the 2021 cap crunch as the usual excuse. Yet that hasn’t stopped other teams from making moves. Nick Foles is under siege and at risk of getting injured with each passing week.
Unless they find a way to shore up his protection, Nagy will be forced to go back to Mitch Trubisky. Something that isn’t likely to solve anything. Is there anything they can do? ESPN analyst and former player Matt Bowen believes there is. He has one trade in mind that he feels would be perfect for them.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
“Bowen: Falcons center Alex Mack to the Bears for a 2021 fifth-rounder and 2022 sixth-rounder. Adding Mack would allow the Bears to bump center Cody Whitehair to guard, boosting the interior of the offensive line that has struggled to gain traction this season in the running game.”
#51 Alex Mack’s A block up to the Lber. Strain through the NG cut the Lber . Beautiful #nochoppysteps pic.twitter.com/qjg4I91FrF
— Olin kreutz (@olin_kreutz) August 23, 2019
Get you a friend like Alex Mack. He always has Devonta Freeman’s back. 💪 pic.twitter.com/3bL6a8OlxU
— Hotlanta Highlights (@HotlantaHlights) July 7, 2019
A Chicago Bears trade for Alex Mack wouldn’t hurt
The problem is the sacrifice that would be necessary. Two picks and a considerable amount of money for a 35-year old center? That doesn’t feel like the best course of action for a roster that is already the second-oldest in the NFL. Mack would be a free agent next offseason anyway. So unless the Bears inked him to an extension, they’d basically be renting him for two draft selections.
That is pricey. Especially given how many picks they’ve surrendered in other trades. Mack is a six-time Pro Bowler. One of the more underrated centers in the NFL. His solid all-around game is hard to deny. He’d probably be a big help to their rushing attack. His arriving in the middle and shifting Whitehair to left guard could solve two problems at once.
Would Pace do it?
Never say never with a GM like him. Silence doesn’t ever mean inactivity with Pace. Several of his Chicago Bears trade moments came completely out of nowhere. See Trubisky and Khalil Mack for reminders. If he has something in mind, he won’t tell anybody. In regards to Mack though? That doesn’t feel like his type of move.
More likely he’d target somebody on the younger side that has an extra year or two on his contract. Somebody the Bears can control for a bit longer than eight games. Such types can be hard to find, especially when they’re offensive linemen. Hence the continued wait.