The Chicago Bears knew going into the coming 2018 season that they had a problem. For all the improvements they made on their offense, a lingering concern remained on their defense. That involving the pass rush. Pernell McPhee, Willie Young, and Lamarr Houston were gone by the start of free agency. Matters only got worse by the preseason. Leonard Floyd broke his hand. Aaron Lynch was out for over a month with a hamstring issue.
Those who were left? They had some nice moments but it was apparent the Bears lacked that extra bite. So what could they do? That fell to GM Ryan Pace. He could try to fix the issue through the waiver wire as cuts began, but that was unlikely to be much help. The only true option that might change the current picture was a trade, and there was one big fish on the market that might be a possibility.
Oakland Raiders star defensive end Khalil Mack. Most people felt that wasn’t a possibility. Pace would never pay the price it would take to get him. Turns out they had misjudged the young GM.
Sources to ESPN: Raiders and Bears have an agreement in place to trade Khalil Mack to Chicago. Still working through it, but Raiders now planning to send Mack to Chicago.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2018
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Before the end of the day, the #Bears are expected to negotiate a long-term deal with Khalil Mack that should eclipse the deal for Aaron Donald. Either way, Chicago just made a huge move.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018
The price of trading for Khalil Mack was described to me late last night as 2 first-round picks and a player. There was only one team willing to do that. That is what may be going to the #Raiders in exchange for Khalil Mack.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018
Chicago Bears paid the high price but get instant star at critical position
The fact is Pace was against the wall going into this season. He’d endured three-straight losing years since taking over in 2015. Despite signing that contract extension this offseason, the pressure was higher than ever on him to win. That was why he was so aggressive from the start, signing big names in free agency and making a bold trade in the draft to get Anthony Miller.
Yet despite all those impressive efforts, something was missing. The defense was good, but in a division stockpiled with star quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and now Kirk Cousins? Teams won’t survive against that without a legitimate pass rush. By pairing Mack with Leonard Floyd and Akiem Hicks, Pace plugged the last noticeable hole in his roster. It’s been one of the most impressive months of roster building in recent memory.
The cost is undoubtedly high. Multiple high draft choices and a contract that is likely to go north of $20 million a year. It’s tough but the only way the Bears were going to shake off this inability to win was to be aggressive. Their offense is improved and now their defense has a shot to become one of the absolute best in the NFL.
