Khalil Mack in Navy and Orange...?

Yeah, the player in trade part has me nervous. I have absolutely zero problem giving up draft picks and cash for maybe the best OLB around. Crazyfool defined the idea I've been outlining in regards to the price: the Bears gave up two Ryan Pace first round picks - an important distinction.

But the player... I haven't seen the rumor. I hope it's not true. I really hope it's not true. This team doesn't have enough depth to give away a talented player. This is the part that needs to be made clear, here - it could determine whether the trade was too expensive or not.

 

I’ve been glued to Twitter since news broke and haven’t seen any names mentioned yet.

 

My first thought was Kwiatkowski, too. Talented player without a high ceiling, but can help right away. With him not being a future planned starter, it wouldn't be crippling. However, Roquan just isn't ready, yet. So it still wouldn't be ideal.

This part has me nervous. Gonna be waiting on baited breath all day.

 

Per Adam Schefter twitter:

The most an NFL team has surrendered for a defensive player is when Vikings traded a 1, two 3’s and a swap of 5’s to Chiefs for DE Jared Allen. Bears trade for Khalil Mack, when it gets done, will top that, making it the most an NFL team has surrendered for a defensive player.

No matter who the player is, we've officially traded more for one defensive player than any team in NFL history. Ballsy, yes. Short-sighted, yes.

Playoffs or fire everyone.

 

I don’t think it’s short sighted.

Mack is in the Julius Peppers once in a lifetime player type of mold.

 

Don't forget the $2.2 mil per sack that you will soon be paying. Mack 4 years in the league, 40.5 sacks.

 

I'm not sure that's right.

Sean Gilbert was traded for two firsts only two years after being traded for the 6th overall pick. Depending on where the picks involved in this trade line up it may not be as expensive as the Gilbert trade.

 

He does a lot more than just get sacks though.

All 10 players on the defense become better because of him.

He’s gonna eat blockers when he’s not getting sacks...making Floyd and Hicks even better. And he’s no slouch against the run.

 

I don't agree with that. Peppers was a far more versatile defensive player. Great pass rusher, incredible size and athleticism to disrupt passes at the LOS, good against the run. Mack is totally a one-dimensional pass rusher. He's not even as good as Von Miller. He's gone several stretches during a season where he's had 0 sacks. He's boom or bust.

 

He’s not one dimensional.

 

Ha. Well Schefty is wrong then. We still gave up too much.

 

There aren’t a lot of players on defense in the NFL that make offenses change their game plans when they face them.

Mack is one of those few that has that impact.

 

Maybe I haven't watched him enough, but he seems a pure pass rusher with little to offer against the run. He's a great player for sure, but the price we paid is making me scrutinize his game more carefully.

 

I know it’s a steep price both in what we give up and what we are gonna pay him....

But I’m fucking pumped!

 

Calling Mack one dimensional is super misguided. Its hard to compare anyone to julius Peppers, who (especially at that time) was a complete freak with nobody nearly as physically gifted as he was.

But Mack is anything but one dimensional. He is the complete package. Hes more than just a pass rusher.

 

This is basically how i feel. I cant help but be jacked

 

He can definitely play the run. He’s a big body and a good tackler and he can beat any double team. The guy just flies through blocks.

I’m not saying he is as great as Peppers was...Peppers is a 1st ballot HOFer...but I’m saying he’s in that mode and can have that kind of impact on a game.

 

An upside of this move that I'm sure the Bears took into consideration is that Mack played some 3-4 OLB in college (Buffalo ran a hybrid with multiple fronts) and he explodes off the edge.

In my own projections (he was ranked as the top defensive player on my board) - I preferred him as a 4-3 DE because of his lack of finesse with edge rushing moves and sometimes clunky coverage ability, but the athletic traits are more than enough to overcome that if he gets proper coaching at the position.

I see this as an extremely big win for the Bears if they are at least a 6 win team this season and a 9 win team next (one top 16 and one bottom 16 pick) but even if they struggle to win but continue to develop the price may prove to be well worth it.

They lock up a true defensive game changer long term and they do it while their franchise quarterback is on his rookie deal.