When the dust settled on the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline, Khalil Mack was where he was expected to be.
Bummer.
There will be no “Return of the Mack” blaring from our speakers anytime soon. The famous Mark Morrison track is more of a summer banger anyway. But it would’ve been heard far and wide had the Chicago Bears successfully swung a trade for the veteran pass rusher. Instead, Mack stays with the Los Angeles Chargers. This isn’t much of a surprise.
Sure, a late report that we discussed earlier on Tuesday framed a Mack trade as a “long shot.” In the moment, I considered it a marginal improvement in the odds. If you recall, there was reporting over the weekend that the Chargers were making it known that the standout defensive end wasn’t going anywhere. Once that dropped, I figured a Mack trade wasn’t happening. But because the NFL has more plot twists than my grandma’s favorite telenovelas, I kept the door open, hoping for a pleasant surprise. It didn’t happen.
In October, league insiders were saying that a Mack trade back to the Bears “makes the most sense” ahead of the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline. It didn’t happen. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t make sense. That the Bears were interested and kept calling to push the Chargers is admirable. However, it was clear that the Cali-based front office wasn’t interested in dealing Mack for anything less than a price too rich for the Bears. Whatever. I hope the Chargers bottom out in a way that causes them to miss out on a generational talent in the 2027 NFL Draft.
I hope that Chicago’s insistence on trading for Mack didn’t keep them from exploring other opportunities. Not that I think Bears General Manager Ryan Poles would have a one-track mind this time of year. But it would be relatable to dial up a trade partner for a specific deal so much that wearing them down would ultimately net a desired outcome.
Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) in the first quarter at Soldier Field on Sunday, December 16, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORKWhat’s Next For the Bears After Failing to Get Khalil Mack?
Now that we know the Bears aren’t getting Mack, we can fully turn our attention to who is on the roster. These are Chicago’s current options at the edge defender/defensive end position:
Montez Sweat — The slow start and two-game suspension are starting to fade from our memories after seeing how Sweat played in the first two games with his former college running mate, Jeffery Simmons. Sweat followed his stellar Monday Night Football performance against the Seahawks (1 sack, 3 QB hits, 1 TFL) with a respectable showing on Sunday Night Football (4 solo tackles, 1 QB hit) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Chicago needs Sweat’s best now that we know there aren’t veteran reinforcements on the way. Austin Booker — Not trading for Mack should leave Booker feeling relieved. After all, the defensive lineman in his third season as a pro probably would have been the one who lost the most playing time had a trade gone through. Instead, the University of Kansas product essentially gets a new lease on his football life. I expect a rejuvenated AB down the stretch. He’s gotta feel good heading into the bye after posting a solid line (1 sack, 3 solo tackles, 2 QB hits, 1 TFL) against the Bucs on SNF.PATRICK FLOWERS’ BEARS BITS — POST-NFL TRADE DEADLINE EDITION
James Lynch — I like what Lynch brings to the table as a versatile depth piece who can play on the interior or on the edge. Players who can eat snaps are valuable. It’s just that I wish he could make some more splash plays. Daniel Hardy — When Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson pointed to Hardy as a player who others on the team can look at as an example of what happens when you put in the work on special teams, I knew he was a guy that this coaching staff valued. Hardy has come on strong in his last four games (2 sacks, 12 total tackles, 5 solo tackles, 1 TFL, 5 quarterback hits) while playing on just 30.4 percent of the defensive snaps. The 27-year-old defensive lineman appears to be carving out a niche as a role player. I look forward to seeing if he can keep up the good work. Nov 8, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Daniel Hardy (92) reacts after a tackle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn ImagesIt’s not just that the Bears didn’t trade for Khalil Mack. They didn’t make a move for any edge rushers. There is a part of me that feels like this was a missed opportunity to improve at the margins. But there is also a part of me that is intrigued by the opportunities ahead for Sweat, Booker, Hardy, Lynch, and others. Maybe not cutting a deal for an edge rusher is a sign that this team believes that Dayo Odeyingbo will return from injured reserve and be a useful piece of the defensive puzzle.
In the end, Chicago’s front office acquired the best defensive lineman available when they traded for Jeffery Simmons. Don’t get it twisted. I’m not trying to shortchange Khalil Mack’s résumé. But as of right now, Simmons is the better player than Mack. And in the grand scheme of things, I feel good about that. Or maybe that’s just the copium speaking. Nah. That’s not it. Again, a Mack reunion in Chicago would’ve been fun. But Simmons is the guy they did get, and he’s good.
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