The Chicago Bears are wrapping up their first significant piece of business under new general manager Ryan Poles. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears have agreed to trade All-Pro defensive end Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Reportedly, the deal will see the Bears getting a draft package that includes a second-round draft pick in 2022 and a sixth-round selection in 2023.
Mack arrived in Chicago back in 2018 in a blockbuster trade from the Oakland Raiders that cost the Bears two first-rounders, among other picks. He also received a six-year, $141 million extension that made him the highest-paid defensive player in the league at the time.
The trade seemed to be working well for Chicago early on, as Mack had 12.5 sacks and made the All-Pro team in his first year. However, this turned out to be his only double-digit sacks season, and his presence didn’t contribute to playoff success as the Bears hoped.
While the Bears will become worse defensively without Mack, his exit comes with several benefits. They will have draft assets to boost their rebuild while also getting his massive contract off their books. On the other hand, the Chargers add a playmaker that should help solidify their shaky defense. The LA team ranked struggled to stop the run in 2021 while ranking at the bottom in allowed third-down conversion.
Mack, who was the Raiders’ no. 5 pick in 2014, has 467 career tackles and 76.5 career sacks. He was NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and was named to Pro Bowl six consecutive times between 2015 and 2020.
