3 reasons Chicago Bears had to trade Khalil Mack

1. Khalil Mack production was down

Chicago Bears fans have to remember that while they love Mack, and when he is at his best, no one can stop him, that best was showing less and less over the past couple of seasons. When he arrived in 2018 he put up 12.5 sacks, which completed four straight years of 10 or more.

Over the past three seasons, he has not hit 10 in any. He went from nine down to 8.5, and then finished with six last season. Of course, injuries had to do with it, but the slow decline in production was apparent.

With that in mind, it is typical that pass rushers peak from 25-30. Some of the best can get into their mid-30s, but for a position that features such athleticism, it is a young man’s game.

Mack is going to be 31 this season. There is a good chance that in the next two years or so we see Mack at his peak, but it is unlikely to go much further. When you add in the injury issues this season, you think that the Chicago Bears new front office realized that it is better to be too early than too late.

That is why the team is not getting a higher pick back for Mack. His salary is bloated, his production is down, and his age is working against him. From the Chicago Bears’ perspective they needed to find a way to clear space, and now have a window wide open for 2023.

They also have more draft capital and turn that into even more draft capital, which can reduce how much they spend this offseason. Overall, the move has eyes set on 2023 with 2022 being a year of feeling things out. That is likely the right approach, and while it is unfortunate, the Chicago Bears timeline now does not quite add up with the timeline of Khalil Mack.