5 reasons the Chicago Bears were right to trade Khalil Mack

Trading Khalil Mack isn’t the end of the world for the Chicago Bears’ pass rush

That above sentence sounds completely hilarious at first glance. However, let’s not forget that they have the franchise record-holder coming back in Robert Quinn. He proved last season that he is still more than capable of playing at an elite level when he’s healthy — and last year, he was healthy.

Stepping into Mack’s shoes will be third-year pro Trevis Gipson, who proved in limited action that he was improving and might be ready for this opportunity. Even if Gipson doesn’t pan out as an every-down starter in 2022, he’ll stick as a strong depth piece going forward.

The Bears now have added flexibility with their cap to help address bigger defensive needs. The team needs two linebackers next to Roquan Smith, after opting to eventually cut Danny Trevathan. They need a starting safety and cornerback to pair with Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson.

The Bears may even need some defensive line help, depending upon whether or not they hold onto Angelo Blackson and Mario Edwards. The Bears have bigger worries than their pass rush at the moment, and trading Mack allows Poles to get help in those areas.