NFL headlines continued to hit Thursday as the Chargers agreed to acquire star pass rusher Khalil Mack in a high-profile deal with the Bears. Los Angeles were expected to seek help early this offseason, but few expected Mack, a former Defensive Player of the Year, to be one of the team’s top targets. Already, the Chargers’ chances of making it to the 2022 playoffs have been boosted by the arrival of Mack against Joey Bosa in the west. But did Los Angeles overpay for their spectacular move? And have the Bears been rewarded for having one of the most accomplished defensemen in the league?
Here’s how we ranked each side of the trade in which the Chargers got Mack in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick:
Bears Score: B-
So, first things first: It’s a shame if you’re a Bears fan, because regardless of his price or recent injury, Mack is an imposing force that any team would love to have for their defense. Overall, however, this is far from a bad bet. Chicago is essentially starting from scratch with a new regime, and Mack, 31, suffered a season-ending injury and has to pay a whopping $84.9 million over the next three years. He may still be in Pro Bowl form by the time Justin Fields and company are (ideally) ready to fight, but instead, the Bears are saving money instantly by adding a solid second-day pick to recover.
The reason they’re not doing this deal is because it’s basically just a second round player, months after the Rams got second and third rounds for the 32-year-old Von Miller’s half season. (The 2023 sixth man offers about the same value as the 2022 seventh man, which is almost a one-off choice.) Granted, Miller was much cheaper and wasn’t recently injured, but Mack, when he’s healthy, remains an elite starter. You have to wonder if the Mac was back at full speed by early 2022, how much the Bears could get from another contender by selling it closer to the trade-in deadline.
Charger class: B+
Is that a high price to pay for an aging pass rusher who is seriously injured, especially in light of the fact that they will gobble up Mac’s entire remaining contract? Certainly. There’s a good chance even if Mack returns to full health against Bosa, his days of dominance at Defensive Player of the Year are behind him. You could argue that the Chargers would be just as good if they invested big money (but not at the Mac level) in veteran free agents like Von Miller or Chandler Jones, or rather, made long-term investments. into someone like Emmanuel Ogba. .
But let’s be honest: that’s exactly the kind of move you make if you think you’re on the edge, and the Chargers with a rising QB franchise in Justin Herbert rightfully do. Pairing Mack with Boza and a defensive line that’s also bound to get some improvement through the draft or free agency is a recipe for one of the most feared sevens in the NFL, especially since coach Brandon Staley has a history with Mack from their time in Chicago. . . At worst, the game doesn’t pay off with a title in the next year or two, and Los Angeles could pull out of Mac’s deal fairly easily; a veteran can be cut in 2023 to save $16.9 million or in 2024 to save $20.3 million.