Execs? Coaches? Players? All Picked Khalil Mack As The #1 Edge Rusher

The national media has enjoyed taking their shots at Khalil Mack this offseason. No doubt because they took one look at his 8.5 sacks in 2019 and assumed he was pretty much a non-factor for a lot of games. Anybody who bothered to watch the film would know this is far from the case. Despite the constant extra attention following the loss of Akiem Hicks and uselessness of Leonard Floyd, he still harassed quarterbacks constantly.

It would appear those who actually work in the NFL aren't that dumb. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN has been conducting surveys among league executives, coaches, scouts, and players. The question is simple. Who are the top 10-15 players at every position? When the topic of edge rushers came around, Fowler admitted he had his assumptions on who #1 would be. Chandler Jones? Von Miller? T.J. Watt? Myles Garrett?

Nope. That spot was reserved for Mack.

Nearly every vote for Mack was top-three, helping to separate him from Chandler Jones in a tight race for the top spot.

Mack's 8.5 sacks and 19.6% pass-rush win rate don't begin to demonstrate his capacity for disruption.

"He can get home in every way -- he can go through you or around you," said one NFL defensive coordinator.

Added a defensive assistant coach: "Your game plan doesn't matter with him."

"He doesn't get past the quarterback very often because he bends so well, has speed-to-power and finishes at the level of the quarterback," a veteran defensive coach said. "And he's relentless."

Khalil Mack is still dominant and now he's pissed off

It's nice to see Mack is still getting the respect he deserves from people who actually do their homework. This is why it's dangerous to listen to the national media. Many of them have a bad tendency to change with the popular winds based on misleading stats. Not that the Chicago Bears are complaining. The misguided disrespect several people have shown the 29-year old over the past few months has had the desired effect for them.

Mack is angry. Really angry.

Outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino said he's never seen a player work out so ferociously as he has this offseason. It's been so relentless that Mack has often taken Zoom calls and interviews from his weight room. The guy sounds like he is on a mission to make a lot of people eat their words this year. With Hicks returned and Robert Quinn replacing Floyd on the other side? It's terrifying to think about what he might do to opposing quarterbacks.