NEWSLETTER
WOW. The Ryan Poles Era is off to a roaring start.
Because while we’ve been discussing bringing on talent, the first major transaction of the new general manager’s era is one that waves goodbye to the team’s top defensive player:
The compensation
The #Chargers are sending a 2nd rounder and a 6th rounder in 2023 for Mack. Massive. https://t.co/YErXO5Bxhv— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2022
Compensation update: Chargers are expected to send 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears in return for Khalil Mack, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2022
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports the Bears are sending star pass-rusher Khalil Mack to the Chargers in a trade. It is a deal that comes with significant draft compensation coming the Bears way, depending on your (realistic) expectations for Mack and his contract. Rapoport reports a second-round pick in 2022 and a sixth-round selection in 2023 are going to Chicago. For a 31-year-old with recent injury issues and a sizable contract, this is a seemingly appropriate return.
The Bears new GM said he would be creative in looking to add draft capital. And trading Mack is one sure-fire way to let that creativity flow. This could be only the start of a roster overhaul.
Mack came to Chicago in a massive deal in its own right back in 2018. And his arrival coincided with an immediate impact that was highlighted by a 12-win season in 2018 and two playoff trips in three years. But the Bears won no playoff games and the regime that brought Mack in got bounced in January.
As for what it means for the Bears moving forward, Mack obviously came with a massive cap number after this season, and I’m thinking the flexibility in 2023 and beyond was the primary target for Poles. Of course, the deal also means a spot at the pass-rusher gig is open, too. This will be paired with other movement, no question.
More soon.
UPDATE (4:22 p.m. CT) — Rapoport tweets the Chargers are taking ALL of Khalil Mack’s contract. That entails three years and $63.9 million. That isn’t insignificant. And it could explain as to why the trade capital wasn’t as hefty as the Miller deal between the Rams and Broncos.
Even still … getting a second-round pick in this year’s draft class on a deal that clears significant future operating space under the cap feels like a net win (all things considered).
The Bears converted $15M of Khalil Mack’s 2021 salary into a bonus last offseason, pushing $12M into the future (this is a “restructure”)
Doubled his dead cap with Chicago to $24M https://t.co/OdkIHVJm1w
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) March 10, 2022
UPDATE: (5:10 p.m. CT) — Let’s quickly clarify the Bears’ draft situation:
https://twitter.com/BN_Bears/status/1502049654825005068
The Mack trade gives the Bears two picks in the top-50, which bumps them to three in the top-75. It still isn’t a great situation. And I can’t help but wonder if this is the first domino to fall. If Poles wants more picks, exploring other trade possibilities could be on the horizon.
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