The Chicago Bears are in an awkward spot right now. They’re one of the worst teams in the NFL but also a team with minimal draft capital and not enough cap space going into 2022. They feel like a team in need of a reboot. Especially with the second-oldest roster in the league. With expectations that at least a new coaching staff will be brought in and perhaps a reshaped front office as well? There is a possibility big changes might be coming. In other words, no veteran will be safe. That includes Robert Quinn and Khalil Mack.
For six games this season, the Bears finally got to see how devastating their pass rush was with the two Pro Bowlers healthy. Together they had 11.5 sacks during that stretch. Sadly, Mack was forced out for the season due to a foot injury. Still, Quinn has soldiered on to one of the best seasons of his career. With three games to play, he has 16 sacks. One shy of the Bears’ single-season record. While the two may still have a chance to excel again next year, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune admitted there is a strong chance the team may look to unload them next spring.
A necessary byproduct of fixing the wider issues with this roster.
“I’m not sure they will want to pay two pass rushers over age 30. Quinn does not have any guaranteed money remaining on his contract, but his base salary for 2022 is $12.8 million, and he has a $100,000 workout bonus, which would mean the Bears would need to move a super-hefty contract. In other words, they might not get a premium draft pick in return. Keep an eye on Khalil Mack and Quinn and wait to see if something happens to the front office and what moves the Bears make. There will be some clues in February and early March.”
In other words, if GM Ryan Pace is out of the picture? The likelihood grows that the Bears could move on from one or both of them. Right now the more feasible of the two is Quinn. Not only because he’s been dominant as a pass rusher this season but also due to his contract. Trading him would net the Bears just over $4.4 million in cap space and $12.7 million in dead cap. By contrast, trading Mack would slam them with over $27 million in dead money.
That is a lot to absorb. So the return would have to at least be decent in order for the team to do it. What could they get? Obviously, players over 30 aren’t going to fetch 1st round picks unless they’re quarterbacks. Truth be told the best Chicago can probably hope for is a 3rd round pick for each player. Maybe some late rounders thrown in for zest. It isn’t ideal but if the Bears are serious about rebuilding, this is an approach they must consider.
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Robert Quinn and Khalil Mack should only stay if playoffs are the goal
Much of this comes down to team perception. Will the next regime view this as a total rebuilding project or will they see a roster that merely needs some tweaks and better coaching? Many experts believe the Bears are better than their record shows. They have some solid talent. If they can get Justin Fields to take the next step, it feels like they could be right back in the playoff mix.
That is what makes the Robert Quinn and Khalil Mack decision so complicated. If the Bears end up feeling they can compete next year, then keeping those two makes more sense. Especially given the limited return they’d get and hefty dead money hits. Trading one or both of them only should happen if the organization is set on getting younger. That means getting as much money and draft picks as possible.
Much of it comes down to the next few weeks.
Who will be the GM? Who will be the head coach? Those two choices will chart the direction for this team not just in 2022 but beyond. As everybody knows, not every regime sees things the same way. Where Pace and Nagy were focused on competing right away, their replacements could take the long view.