3 reasons the Chicago Bears should not trade Mack or Quinn this offseason
By Todd Welter
The Chicago Bears need pass rushers in the new defensive scheme.
New head coach Matt Eberflus is implementing his 4-3 base defensive scheme. His defense is predicated on pressuring the quarterback with the front four. Having those two would make sure Eberflus’ defense starts off on the right foot.
The Bears would be trading away Quinn’s team record of 18.5 sacks and Mack’s six sacks before his season was cut short by injuries.
Trading one or both away creates a new problem. There is no one currently on the roster to replace that kind of pass rush production. Trevis Gipson finished the season strong and ended up with seven sacks but he has never rushed the quarterback in a 4-3 scheme at the NFL level. He is not exactly a proven game-wrecker like Mack and Quinn.
Bilal Nichols has the potential to thrive getting to the quarterback in a 4-3 scheme. He is set to be a free agent so there is no guarantee he returns.
Plus, the Chicago Bears have historically had issues developing game-wrecking pass rushers. That is usually why the Bears have to go the free-agent route to acquire someone like Quinn or the trade route to get Mack.
The new coaching staff may have better luck developing pass rushers.
Trading Mack or Quinn also means probably using a draft pick to replace one or both. That would defeat the purpose unless the goal is to get younger along the defensive line.
That is a huge risk for a first-year coaching staff, especially one that has a chance to put together another good defense.
Mack and Quinn are proven pass rushers in the 4-3 scheme. Combine those two—provided Mack comes back healthy—along with Roquan Smith, Jaylon Johnson, and a scheme that should get Eddie Jackson back to a high level of play, and the Chicago Bears have a core of players to be a really good defense.
If Aaron Rodgers leaves Green Bay, the NFC North is wide open. Having a good defense along with Fields’ development going in a positive direction could be enough to take the NFC North and never give it back.