Assessing the big-name deal between Chicago and Los Angeles
NFL headlines continued to churn out Thursday, with the Chargers agreeing to acquire star pass rusher Khalil Mack in a big-name trade with the Bears. Los Angeles was expected to step in to help out this season, but something expected Mack, the former Defensive Player of the Year, was one of the team's top goals. Already, the Chargers' chances of a 2022 playoff run have skyrocketed as a result of Mack facing Joey Bossa in the west. But did L.A. pay more for its spectacular move? And did the Bears get a fair return for one of the most skilled defensive players in the league?
Here's how we'll grade each side of the business, with the Chargers getting Mack in exchange for their 2022 second-round draft pick and 2023 sixth-rounder:
Bear Grade: B-
Okay, so first things first, it hurts if you're a fan of Bears, because no matter its price tag or recent hurt, Mack is the kind of imposing force that no one wants. The team would also like to keep it in their defence. Overall, though, it's far from a bad bet. Chicago is essentially starting from the ground up with a new regime, and Mack is 31, coming off a season-ending injury, and owed a whopping $84.9 million over the next three years. He could be in Pro Bowl form by the time Justin Fields & Co. is (ideally) ready for conflict, but instead, the Bears save money while adding a solid Day Two pick to rebuild immediately.
The reason the deal is a ruckus is that it's basically just for second rounders, months after the Rams dropped second and third rounders for 32-year-old Von Miller's half-season. (The 2023 sixth offers roughly the same price as the 2022 seventh, which is a throwing pick.) Granted, Miller was much less expensive and was not freshly injured, but Mack, while healthy, made an elite starter. lives. You have to wonder, if Mack returned at full speed to start 2022, how much the beer could have gotten from another contender by selling it closer to the trade deadline.
Chargers Grade: B+
Is this a serious price tag for the aging pass rusher who is coming off a serious injury, especially in light of the fact that they'll be absorbing the remainder of Mack's contract? Sure. There's a good chance that even if Mack returns to full health, unlike Bossa, his days of defensive Player of the Year-level dominance are behind him. You could argue that the Chargers would be as good as experienced free agents like Von Miller or Chandler Jones to make big money (but not Mack-level big), or to make long-term investments in someone like Emmanuel Ogba. . ,
But let's be honest: This is exactly the kind of move you believe you're on the verge of, and the Chargers, with ascending franchise QB in Justin Herbert, do right. Pairing Mack with Bossa and a defensive line that's also sure to get some upgrades through draft or free agency is a recipe for one of the scariest front sevens in the NFL, most notably coach Brandon Staley's Chicago I have a history with Macs from their time. , Worst case scenario, the gamble doesn't pay off with a title in the next year or two, and L.A. can walk out of Mack's deal fairly easily; The veteran could be cut to save $16.9M in 2023, or $20.3M in 2024.