Khalil Mack may not be having the MVP year some figured he would, but it's not like the star pass rusher is playing bad. He has 5.5 sacks through the first eight games, putting him on pace for 11 on the year. That is a good season by any standard. He is not the problem in regard to this Chicago Bears football team. Yet that didn't stop some people from entertaining the idea of trading the 28-year old this coming offseason.
Yes, seriously.
Barstool Sports writer Chief (that's his name) declared that trading Mack is the right decision because, in his mind, the team is finished. They'll never compete for the playoffs again and must look to rebuild.
His reasoning is, shall we say, flawed.
"As it stands right now the Bears have $203M committed to just 36 signed players. This year the Bears are paying $168M to the full roster of 59. I am sure there is a way to finagle and massage the cap. Cut some guys, restructure other deals, but the Bears are going to at minimum need to clear money to re-sign or sign replacements for Trevathan and Clinton-Dix in addition to bringing some journeyman “savior” quarterback. Oh and then Eddie Jackson and Leonard Floyd will be in need of new deals because 2020 is the last year of their rookie deals as well...
...It’d be one thing if the Bears had draft picks to restock the shelves with cap casualties coming…they don’t. In 2020 the Bears have a 2nd, a 5th, a 6th, and a 7th. Odds are that they’ll get one competent roster player from that draft.
Which brings us all the way back to Khalil Mack. If you’re not competing for a Super Bowl then what are you even doing? Trying to go 8-8? No thanks. I’d rather rebuild and try again."
Khalil Mack trade would solve nothing for the Bears
Oh dear. Where to begin. Let's start with the easy one. His assumption is that the Bears will move swiftly to extend Eddie Jackson and Leonard Floyd in the offseason. He's only half right. Jackson will get his extension despite his continued drought without an interception. Floyd? That feels far less likely. The outside linebacker has three sacks total in 2019. Three. Why would the Bears give big money to a guy who has proven beyond doubt at this point that he isn't a good pass rusher? That makes little sense.
In regards to the salary cap, the Bears are well-positioned to make some moves that will get them significant space. Releasing Kyle Long and Prince Amukamara alone would net them $16.1 million. If they traded or released Floyd, that would be an additional $13.22 million. Just from three players. So this idea GM Ryan Pace has no wiggle room is also incorrect.
Last but certainly not least? His assessment of the draft. Just...wow. Chief claims the Bears have just a 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 7th round choices for a total of four. Apparently he didn't bother to do his research since they also have another 2nd from Oakland, another 5th from Oakland and likely another 5th from the Philadelphia Eagles for the Jordan Howard trade. That's seven picks with a chance to get an eighth if the Bears cut running back Mike Davis this week before the compensatory pick deadline.
It's apparent this call for a trade is less a well-thought-out piece offering the benefits of such an idea and more a knee-jerk emotional reaction to a team that is struggling.
