NEWSLETTER
Not everything needs to be complex.
Nor does everything need to be treated with nuance and perspective.
Allow me to be straightforward here: Khalil Mack is a damn good football player. You know it. I know it. And so do the folks at Pro Football Focus, who rank Mack as their sixth-best player in the NFL right now. He checks in as the analytics site’s top edge rusher and second-best defensive player in the game.
And you can see why:
Happy 30th birthday to 6x Pro Bowler Khalil Mack!@FiftyDeuce | @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/zrjWB2Pcv4
— NFL (@NFL) February 22, 2021
The accomplishments were plenty and the stat line was booming. Last year, Mack came away with 9.0 sacks, 11 tackles-for-loss, 13 QB Hits, 1 interception, and 3 forced fumbles (2 recoveries). His 92.3 grade last year was the best at his position. Mack’s 90.8 pass-rushing grade was the third best among all players, while his grade on third down was third best among defensive linemen. Prettay, prettay, prettay good!
This is becoming old hat for Mack, but I sure as heck am not growing tired of seeing it. Not only was Mack’s 92.3 grade was best at his position, it also marks the fifth time in seven years in which he earned a grade of 90.0 or better. And in the years Mack wasn’t picking up grades in the 90s, he never fell below 85.0. It’s the combination of excellence and consistency for me. And in 2020, Mack was both consistent and excellent.
So, how does one follow up another year featuring another Pro Bowl nomination, first-team All-Pro honors from the Pro Football Writers of America and PFF, as well as second-team All-Pro daps from the Associated Press? By doing it again, of course. And so long as Mack stays healthy, expecting anything short of elite play from him would be foolish.
Khalil Mack is a bad man. And one of the absolute best in the world.
