Chicago Bears Adding Draft Capital For Short Rebuild Is The Right Call

As much as it hurts to see Khalil Mack leave, gaining assets and shedding cap for a short rebuild is the right move for the Chicago Bears.

The Chicago Bears joined what has been a wild week in the NFL prior to free agency, trading away superstar Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers. The trade netted them a second round pick in 2022 and a sixth rounder in 2023, and the Chargers took on the rest of his salary. The move signifies that the Bears are ready to move forward with a short rebuild with general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus hoping to right the ship.

The good news for Poles and Eberflus is that they have the potential franchise quarterback in the building in Justin Fields. Relatively speaking, it didn’t take as much as it sometimes does to move up for that guy in the NFL Draft.

In this instance, the front office is doing the right thing to build up draft capital post-trade so there’s enough around Fields and on defense. It hurts to see someone as talented as Mack go, and the dead cap hit hurts this season, but it opens up more space for next offseason to pursue some big name free agents to address areas of need.

Chicago currently sits with two picks in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, along with another in the top 75. It gives the Bears a chance to get a guy they like at 39, and have the option to move back again for more picks in a deeper day two draft from the Chargers pick they acquired.

In a class that looks deep at wide receiver (with a couple potential WR1s that could fall to pick 39), edge rusher (to get a cheap replacement and quality starter to replace Mack), and offensive line (if James Daniels walks, interior guys will be there in spades), the Chicago Bears decision to rebuild is the right call. They can get multiple starters in this draft, and the window will open for them to really take that step forward in 2023. Patience is important, cause this group in Chicago can do it.