One of the NFL’s most feared pass-rushers goes to the Chargers, while a pair of draft picks reportedly heads back to the Bears. Let’s dive into the details of this week’s Khalil Mack trade.
The Chicago Bears broke the bank when they went all-in on then-Raiders pass rusher Khalil Mack, acquiring him via trade in September of 2018 and immediately locking him with a six-year, $141 million contract extension. At the time, it was the largest deal ever signed by a defensive player in the history of the NFL.
Now, Mack’s time at Soldier Field is over. And he’s headed back to the AFC West to line up opposite a similarly monstrous edge man, Joey Bosa.
The Los Angeles Chargers, after narrowly missing the postseason this year thanks to a Week 18 overtime defeat to Mack’s former Raiders, are surely convinced that this is the move that puts them over the top and makes them impossible to ignore in the race for their first AFC title in nearly three full decades.
So, what are the money implications for both teams going forward, as well as for the superstar himself? Let’s go deep on the Khalil Mack trade.
Khalil Mack Contract Details & Salary
All dollar figures via Spotrac.
Length: 6 yearsTotal value: $141,000,000Average annual value: $23,500,000Guaranteed money: $90,000,000Free agency: 2025
2022 salary: $17,750,0002022 salary cap hit: $17,750,0002022 dead cap: None ($5,500,000 roster bonus vests March 18)
2023 salary (non-guaranteed): $22,900,000
2024 salary (non-guaranteed): $23,250,000
Khalil Mack Trade Salary Cap Impact
As of March 11, 2022.
Chicago Bears
2022 salary cap space: $28,973,225Active contracts: $140,931,351Dead money: $39,995,424Total salary cap usage: $180,926,775
Los Angeles Chargers
2022 salary cap space: $24,327,843Active contracts: $191,014,325Dead money: $457,832Total salary cap usage: $191,472,157
The signal from GM Ryan Poles here that the Chicago Bears are headed for a rebuild. Competing in the NFC North is a tough proposition, and they’ve ultimately decided in firing head coach Matt Nagy and moving on from big-money Mack that their current setup didn’t put them in the right position to commit with Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and the Packers.
There are still decisions to make beyond this one at the dawn of the Matt Eberflus era, however — wide receiver Allen Robinson is one of the highest-profile free agents on the board this offseason, and Chicago opted not to use the franchise tag to guarantee his return for at least one more year.
Bears-Chargers Khalil Mack Trade Details
Los Angeles Chargers get:
- EDGE Khalil Mack
Chicago Bears get:
- 2022 second-round pick
- 2023 sixth-round pick
