It’s no secret the Chicago Bears have problems with their roster. One of the biggest they’ve been unable to solve for a long time is their pass rush. Vic Fangio has made due with an array of decent, if unremarkable talents since he took over in 2015. Yet when was the last time the team employed a genuine stud that opponents had to gameplan against? That would be five years ago when Julius Peppers played for them.
Since then they’ve had to make due with a collection of okays and goods but no great to be found. Now it may be even worse this year. Leonard Floyd, their best and only hope at the edge rush position this year already has a broken hand. Prized free agent Aaron Lynch has missed all of training camp and preseason thus far with a hamstring issue.
Who’s left? Sam Acho? Isaiah Irving and Kylie Fitts? Not exactly a group that inspires confidence about being able to take on and defeat guys like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson. This is why fans have frantically called on the team to make a bold trade for help. The big name everybody keeps talking about is Khalil Mack.
Do they have a chance to get him though?
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Former team president believes Chicago Bears in best spot to get Mack
Mack is a 27-year old All-Pro who has topped at least 10 sacks in each of the past three seasons. He’s considered one of the two or three best defensive players in football. Ongoing contract squabbles with the Oakland Raiders have led to speculation that he might be traded rather than letting his protracted holdout continue.
Thus far rumors out of Oakland have rebuffed such an idea, but the buzz isn’t going away. The two sides don’t seem even remotely close to a new deal and head coach Jon Gruden doesn’t sound too interested in pursuing it. Dave Kaplan of ESPN asked former NFL executive Joe Banner about the situation and where Mack could land if a trade happened.
Banner’s answer will certainly make the day of Bears fans.
"Bears, (in my mind) are on the top of the list to land Khalil Mack" – @JoeBanner13 just now with @thekapman & @BoyleNBCS pic.twitter.com/4K0KFznGr1
— ESPN 1000 (@ESPN1000) August 22, 2018
Banner served in NFL front offices for 20 years between Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Atlanta. He’s seen the business work first hand and knows what can often lead to big trades. So for him to say the Bears have the best shot to land Mack is more than encouraging. The problem is the logistics.
Many things have to go right for it to happen. The Raiders would have to agree to deal him. The Bears would have to want to pay the hefty price in draft picks to get him. Mack would also have to agree to sign a long-term contract extension at an amount the Bears would be willing to pay.
GM Ryan Pace is never afraid of being aggressive, but he’s also notably cautious outside of the draft. He’s never made a significant trade of any kind for a veteran player. Dealing for Mack, while a potentially ideal solution to his teams’ biggest problem, would be a huge departure from his usual mode of operation.
