The Chicago Bears will likely be in the market for a pass-rusher who they can place on the opposite side of Montez Sweat.
It was believed to be a need for the team last offseason but little attention was paid to it. The Bears did draft Austin Booker in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, while there is a chance Booker takes a leap in his development during his second season in the NFL, counting on that would be a mistake. With Darrell Taylor also set to become a free agent in March, the Bears have their work cut out for them.
There are prominent pass rushers available on the trade market, as Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, and Trey Hendrickson might be on the move. The idea of Parsons or Garrett appears to more based on speculation than reality at this point in the offseason while Garrett has requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns.
While Hendrickson wouldn't cost nearly as much as Parsons or Garrett, there still seems to be a risk in the Bears using draft capital given the needs they have in the trenches. It's possible that the Bears obtain their secondary pass-rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft but many fans have pointed toward a potential reunion.
Khalil Mack is set to become a free agent in March and has already expressed a desire to play. Given that fact, many have been quick to point toward a potential reunion with the Bears.
One person not pointing in that direction is Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
"Mack wouldn’t solve any of the Bears’ long-term issues, and my thinking is they would prefer to pursue options with more runway. Unless Ryan Poles feels pressure to try to turn the Bears around immediately — and I don’t get the sense that is the situation — I would be surprised if they were interested in paying significant money to a player as old as Mack.," Biggs wrote.
Khalil Mack does not appear to be in the Bears' future.
While the arrival of Ben Johnson has heightened the expectation of what the Bears could be in 2025, the fact is their contention window will not fully open until they have addressed their needs along the offensive line and defensive line. The primary use of the Bears' resources this offseason should be on adding legitimate starters to their offensive line and solidifying the middle of their defensive line. Mack likely doesn't fit in that picture.