It's hard to believe this is actually a topic of conversation, but here we are. With the 2019 season spiraling down the tube, many Chicago Bears fans consider that a wrap on their latest chance to chase a Super Bowl. That means they should do everything in their power to secure future assets to begin reshaping the roster. In other words, sell off anything that isn't nailed down. Hence why some fans are wondering if it might be best to ship out Khalil Mack.
Yes, really.
It's amazing that a guy who is still one of the most feared defenders in football and just 28-years old is suddenly viewed as a liability. This because he has just one sack in the last five games. As if that's his fault. Mack is still a threat and forcing offenses to adjust. It's not like the Bears defense is terrible either. They're 4th in points allowed and 8th overall. They're good and he remains a key reason why. Sacks haven't been there but this is because opponents have been able to limit his opportunities to get them.
Even so, the speculation continues. So just for a moment lets dip into this madness and ask the question. What could the Bears get if they were to make Mack available?
Khalil Mack contract will be a hard pill to swallow
The big obstacle from the Bears' perspective isn't finding a buyer. There's virtually guaranteed to be a handful of teams that would be willing to go after Mack. It's his contract. He will be due over $26 million in 2020. If the Bears were to trade him, they'd be saddled with $30.8 million in dead money. Not to mention an additional $4.2 million salary cap hit according to overthecap.com. That is a lot for a team to stomach.
Would the return they'd get be worth it?
That depends. Looking back over recent history, the benchmark of what the Bears can secure is a 1st round pick. Kevin Carter netted the 29th overall choice in 2001 for the Rams. John Abraham secured the 15th overall pick for the Jets in 2006. Richard Seymour got New England the 17th overall pick in 2011. Those were just straight-up exchanges. All of those men, like Mack, were in their late 20s.
The Bears could also go the way of the Seattle Seahawks this past offseason. They packaged Frank Clark and a 3rd round choice to the Chiefs in exchange for 1st and 3rd round picks in 2019 and a conditional 2nd in 2020. Though Clark was 26 so that may have upped the price a bit.
The bottom line? Chicago can definitely get a 1st rounder from somebody. Maybe a little extra. As of now the Colts, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Bills, and Cowboys are all projected to have over $80 million in salary cap space at the start of next year. Miami alone has three 1st round picks at their disposal. There would be a market.
Just don't expect it to happen.
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