Bears Named Top Khalil Mack Trade Fit at Bargain 5th-Round Price

Khalil Mack, the 35-year-old edge rusher, might return to his hometown Chicago Bears after a winless start with the Los Angeles Chargers. According to The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones, this deal could be mutually beneficial for both teams. Jones, however, emphasized that it’s too early to link players with specific destinations. A fifth-round selection has been quoted as the price for Mack, which is relatively cheap given the Chargers’ current situation.

The Chargers are 0-4 and have yet to signal any interest in trading him. They have already paid Mack $10 million upfront, leaving the acquiring team with a remaining obligation of less than $4 million. NFL executives hinted that Mack’s future might be uncertain, as Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, and Montez Sweat have contributed seven of Chicago’s 10 sacks through four games, leaving the edge rotation thin.

Mack has even contemplated retirement, but a Super Bowl ring remains the one thing missing from his resume. This could potentially be his last season. The Bears acquired Mack from the Raiders in 2018 and kept him for four seasons before trading him to Los Angeles during a rebuilding phase. Mack had expressed his desire to stay and called the trade "bittersweet."

Mack recently stated on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast, "Looking back on it, you realize how important those moments are," and added that it was "a special time." The trades must be finalized by November 10, providing the Bears with a month to decide whether the fifth-round pick is a fair price for a veteran who knows the arena.