The Chicago Bears' defense has been much better than expected. Nevertheless, even the best things can be improved, and Dennis Allen's unit could always use some help in the pass-rushing department.
According to ESPN, the Bears' pass-rush win rate (52 percent) ranks 14th in the league. That's not bad at all, but that also means they might be just a move away from being elite in that regard, and that's where someone like Khalil Mack could come in handy.
Even at 35 years young, the future Hall of Famer continues to be a force to be reckoned with. And with the Los Angeles Chargers sitting on a 0-4 record, the Bears should strongly consider bringing him back to the Windy City.
The Chicago Bears and Khalil Mack are perfect for each other
Mack is on a one-year deal and wants to play for a Super Bowl contender before calling it quits. He has a better chance to do so in Chicago behind Ben Johnson's offensive juggernaut and in a much-improved defense.
Mack's first tenure with the team was more than decent. He amassed 36.0 sacks, 121 solo tackles, 42 assists, 35 tackles for loss, 52 QB hits, one safety, 11 passes defensed, 14 forced fumbles, six fumbles recovered, two interceptions, and one pick-six in 53 regular-season games.
The Bears' new regime traded him after an injury-riddled campaign to transition toward a younger core. They ultimately flipped him into Elijah Hicks, Jaquan Brisker, and Trenton Gill, none of whom are still with the team.
The former Oakland Raiders star brought his career back up in Los Angeles, accumulating 39.5 sacks and even having 17.0 in a single season. This year, he's up to 3.0 sacks, three quarterback hits, and 14 total pressures, so yeah, unc's still got it.
Mack is one of the greatest pass-rushers of his generation, and he's a team-first guy. He'd be much more than an instant contributor to this team; he'd also embrace a leadership and mentorship role fo younger guys like Dayo Odeyingbo, James Lynch, and Austin Booker.
Ryan Poles was right to move on from him at the time, but there should be no hard feelings there. Mack will have no shortage of suitors, but the Bears can probably offer him the best situation. Also, he might be a much more viable and realistic option than the Maxx Crosby trade fans are still dreaming of.
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