Bears To Inquire About Khalil Mack?

There is plenty of familiarity between the Bears organization and Mack, who starred with the team from 2018-21 before exiting in a trade with the Chargers. Now off to a 5-2 start and in contention for their second straight NFC North title, the Bears may want to reunite with Mack to join fellow edge rushers Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, Daniel Hardy and Shemar Turner. While Chicago already ranks top 10 in sacks (eighth) and pass rush win rate (ninth), adding both Simmons and Mack could make its defense a nightmare for opposing offenses.

Although Mack is no longer the Defensive Player of the Year-caliber force he was earlier in his career, he remains a formidable presence at the age of 35. Six games into his 13th season, the nine-time Pro Bowler has notched six quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and three sacks. Pro Football Focus ranks his performance an easily above-average 23rd among 113 qualifying edge defenders.

Mack could help the Bears or any other contending team, but the problem is that the Chargers have refused to sell off veterans despite an 0-6 start. No team has ever dug out of that deep of a hole to make the playoffs, putting history firmly against the Chargers. General manager Joe Hortiz may be more willing to entertain offers for Mack and other potential trade chips if the Chargers don’t get off the mat before the deadline. The Chargers have to deal with the Rams this week, but if they pull an upset and then beat the Commanders in their last pre-deadline game, Hortiz might not trade anyone.

Hortiz kept Mack from leaving in free agency last offseason with a one-year, $18MM offer. All of that money is guaranteed, and Mack counts $18MM against the cap. The Bears are down to $1.27MM in spending space after acquiring Simmons (per Over the Cap), which means it will be a challenge for GM Ryan Poles to swing a trade for Mack or any other pricey player in the next 11 days.