Khalil Mack reportedly interested in a reunion with Bears

Mike Dinovo - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 10 hours ago

The Chicago Bears have been no strangers to the rumor mill this offseason, which should continue to linger throughout free agency. One of the rumors that seemed far-fetched at first is now starting to become more likely by the day, and it is a potential reunion of Khalil Mack returning to Windy City. Mack was a massive part of this franchise when they won the division in 2018 and played a huge role in their defense before signing his most recent deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Now, as a free agent at age 34, not only do the Bears have an interest in bringing him back for a union, but it does seem as if Mack is also open to it. It's no secret that Mack loved his time in the Windy City, and it pained him to leave. However, this is a business; he understood why the Bears moved on, and there was no ill will between the two sides.

Anytime you go after a free agent in his mid-30s, there are concerns about the overall production and durability they could provide throughout the contract. Even if Mack's best years are behind him, he is still a very productive player who has been about as durable as they come, even at his age.

Take last season, for example. Mack played in 16 games, all of which were starts, and he was one of the more productive players on the Chargers' defense. Mack registered 6 Sacks, 6 TFLs, and 15 quarterback hits for the season. Those are a far cry from the numbers he put up in his prime, but adding that type of production to what the Bears already have would instantly improve this defense.

Even if his overall production was down from what many fans have become accustomed to, Mack still graded out as the fifth-best edge rusher for the season with a 90.4 overall grade. That would be considered elite at any age, so seeing that happen at his age 34 season shows he has plenty left in the tank to offer.

Considering his first two years with the Chargers saw him post two of the worst seasons of his career with grades in the low 70s, Mack has bounced back with a 91.8 PFF grade in 2023 and 90.4 this season. Even if Mack is nearing the end of his career, at two years and a deal of $40-45 million, he would make a great pairing with Montez Sweat, who could use another running mate on defense.

Anytime a player gets this late in their career; the goal is not only to get paid as much as possible one last time but to go with a winning organization with a shot at winning a Superbowl. Mack is one of those guys who wants to win or at least have a shot at winning, but he wants to be happy too. Chicago is a place that made him happy in the past, and it wouldn't surprise anyone if it made him happy again.

As with any free agent, you need to look at the fit and whether they fit in well with the team. When it comes to Mack going to the Bears, the fit is pretty apparent. He would be Sweat's running mate, which he hasn't had since joining the Bears. Even without a secondary pass-rushing option, Sweat has put up solid to above-average numbers. Still, the overall production would be better if someone else could get after the quarterback.

Mack isn't going to be a long-term solution, but he is still playing at a high enough level that he could get you six to eight sacks per season, which alone would open things up for Sweat to reach his full potential. Mack isn't going to be the 18-sack guy he was with the Bears back in the day, but after picking up 31 sacks during his time in Los Angeles, the production is there for him to make an impact.

Mack is a leader who knows what it takes to be successful and a locker-room veteran respected by the entire league. He also knows what it takes to play in Chicago and be successful in Chicago, which is something this team could use. Should the Bears ultimately make this move, they will still have to make another move because Mack alone wouldn't be enough to put this team over the top.