It’s been an interesting offseason for the Chicago Bears so far, which has included an uninspired free agency and the losses of some players who have been mainstays on the roster over the last few years.
Perhaps the most surprising departure was star pass rusher Khalil Mack, who the Bears traded to the Los Angeles Chargers ahead of free agency. Chicago got a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick in return.
Mack’s departure is a huge loss for Matt Eberflus’ defense. But Eberflus does believe that the move will be beneficial in the long run.
“We just thought what was best for the organization going forward, looking at the whole piece of it,” Eberflus said. “It will be good for us in the long run.”
While the compensation for Mack wasn’t what many expected, the salary cap relief beyond 2022 is what makes up for it. The Bears do have to eat $24 million in dead money in 2022. But Mack’s departure also frees up $28.5 million in salary cap space for 2023, which is when Chicago could start making moves to be a contender.
For Eberflus, he’s learning about the importance of looking to the future with moves like this.
“When I was younger maybe I looked through a straw, but now you have to look that way,” he said. “You have to be able to look and see down the road, but you also have to come back to your (present).”
When looking at said present, the Bears have an intriguing trio of edge rushers in Robert Quinn, Trevis Gipson and newcomer Al-Quadin Muhammad. While Gipson and Muhammad aren’t Mack-type players, Chicago still has their new single-season sack record leader in Quinn.
