The Los Angeles Chargers and Chicago Bears pulled off a stunning trade ahead of free agency on Thursday, with pass rusher Khalil Mack serving as the centerpiece. The Chargers sent a couple of picks to Chicago in order to pair Mack with Joey Bosa in their front seven.
Bears trade Khalil Mack to Chargers
According to multiple reports, the Bears traded Mack to the Chargers for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick. Mack, who spent the past four seasons with the Bears, will now rejoin the AFC West, where he began his career as a member of the then-Oakland Raiders. LA will now have Mack under contract for the next three years at a cost of $63.9 million.
With Mack returning to the AFC, let’s take a look at how all the parties fared in this surprising pre-free agency deal.
Khalil Mack
After spending four seasons in Chicago, Mack was probably due for a change of scenery. The 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year hadn’t been nominated to a Pro Bowl since 2018, his first season with the Bears. Mack battled injuries last season and just turned 31 in February.
While he’s still an effective pass rusher, he’s probably better off being the No. 2 threat upfront at this point in his career. With Bosa on the opposite side of the formation, Mack should be able to spring free against solo blocking assignments.
Plus, Mack gets to go from the cold weather of Chicago to the sunny beaches of LA, which seems like a great lifestyle trade-off.
Grade: B+
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have a boatload of salary cap space, and they are using it wisely. Being able to land Mack without giving up a first-round pick or having to cut cap casualties to make room for him is a huge win for the franchise. Brandon Staley now has two ace pass rushers on his defense, which should only help him with creative pass-rushing packages in his second season in LA.
Grade: B+
Chicago Bears
The Bears are rebuilding under a new regime in Chicago. With GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus leading the charge, the Bears are looking to cut costs and start from scratch. Trading Mack will save $6.1 million in cap space as the Bears look to open up their spending options ahead of free agency. Mack isn’t likely to be the last player from the former regime to be sent out of town, either.
That said, the Bears don’t have a first-round pick this season because of the previous front office’s trade up for Justin Fields during last year’s NFL Draft. Adding a second-round selection to their pick haul was a big get for a Bears team that needs a ton of work. A youth movement is on its way, and that second-round pick could help Poles and Eberflus land a notable contributor for Year 1 of their partnership.
The Bears now have six draft picks, including two second-round and two fifth-round selections. This is the right way to rebuild.
Grade: B
