The Chicago Bears are looking more and more like a team that will be active at the trade deadline on November 10th. They’re 5-2 and riding some momentum with three wins in their past four games. Quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense are humming. Even the defense has made timely plays despite continued injury setbacks. This team feels like it can build on its playoff run last season. Maybe this time, they should see if they can bring in some extra help. That is where Khalil Mack comes in.
A few weeks ago, the pass rusher became a hot topic among possible trade targets, what with the Los Angeles Chargers being winless. He’s 35 years old and on a one-year deal. If the Chargers can get anything for him, they should. The Bears were mentioned as a potential landing spot, given their need for pass rush help and Mack’s obvious history with the organization. If you needed further proof that the smoke is very real, Adam Schefter of ESPN provided it with his recent deadline update.
“You have to wonder if teams like the Chicago Bears will keep calling to try to bring Khalil Mack back to Chicago.”
Khalil Mack would be a bunt. Not a home run swing.
Whispers indicate it would cost a 5th round pick to likely get him from Los Angeles. People must keep in mind this is not the Mack of eight years ago. Not even the one from three years ago. His physical gifts have diminished with his age. It’s been his power and savvy as a pass rusher that have kept him effective. Any team trading for him must recognize that they shouldn’t put full snaps on his body. His best role is as a designated pass rusher. Is that worth paying the price to bring him in?
That depends on who you ask. Many feel Khalil Mack still has some of that old juice. Enough to give the Bears’ rush a considerable jolt. You’re only as good as your depth in that department. Right now, Chicago’s is questionable. Daniel Hardy has played surprisingly well with Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo out the past two weeks. Would the Bears rather continue giving him more snaps since he’s younger and cheaper? Or do they feel Mack would be that much of an improvement.
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The numbers tell an interesting story.
While Mack does have 16 pressures and 3 sacks this season, that is only good enough to rank him 39th in the league. His 10.1 pass rush win percentage is 82nd. This isn’t somebody who’s been as productive as his name would suggest. The Bears would be gambling that a change of scenery to play for a contender might reinvigorate the aging veteran to make a strong push in the second half of the season. It’s worked before. The Bears would need to have a plan for him, though.
Thankfully, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen should have no issue with that. He’s the man who helped draft Mack in the first place as head coach of the Oakland Raiders. There is no denying how cool a story it’d be. The Bears traded Mack in 2022 to kickstart a rebuild. Now they bring him back after the rebuild is over, and maybe help carry him to that Super Bowl ring that has eluded him.
