By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Chargers exhibit two Thor-like edge rushers on their roster with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. The older Bosa bro unleashed 10.5 sacks, 20 QB hits, 51 combined tackles, and a personal-best 7 forced fumbles last season. PFF also gave Bosa a very impressive 85.8 grade for his 2021 performance. In the 2020 off-season, the 2016 DROY winner inked a five-year extension worth $135 million dollars.

Bosa’s new roommate (well, maybe), Khalil Mack, will be licking his chops to have a double-digit campaign next season, too. Mack registered six sacks, 7 QB hits, and six tackles for loss in seven contests last season. It was clear that Mack didn’t lose a step last season and it’s clear that he’s unleashed hell this off-season, as well. Take a look yourself at the scene of Mack looking like the Incredible Hulk below.

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com pegged the Khalil Mack-Joey Bosa duo as the second-best pass-rushing duo in the league. It’s clear that the Chargers possess a gifted pass-rushing duo. I honestly believe that the combination of an ascending Justin Herbert and a Chargers pass-rushing combination will carry them to the top of the AFC West in 2022.

Besides the Chargers top two pass rushers, LA will anticipate production from Kyle Van Noy, Jerry Tillery (4.5 sacks last season), and Sebastian Joseph-Day (3 sacks in 2021). In particular, Noy is a quality third-string OLB and he will often be a fresh, pass-rushing menace in the upcoming season. He unveiled five sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception last season. PFF also gave him a quality 72.9 grade for his 2021 season.

The Chargers ranked 20th in sacks a season ago (with 35 sacks). It would be an understatement to say I expect them to significantly improve with the former Buffalo edge rusher that witnessed Jadeveon Clowney get drafted ahead of him. The Chargers have an MVP-darkhorse QB with Herbert but don’t forget about their tenacious pass rush that will make life miserable for Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the league in 2022.

The post Why the Los Angeles Chargers pass rush will thrive in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Chargers have had one of the sexiest off-seasons — as they notably added Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson to their defensive unit. It would be an understatement to say LAC should take a big step in 2022. With that said, I’m going to simply project the potential victories, likely losses, and overall record for the Chargers next season.

Week 1: vs the Raiders

I believe the Chargers are a bit more talented than the Raiders (especially in the secondary) and I believe LAC wins 35-21 in this contest.

Week 2: at the Chiefs

I expect them KC — with their still lethal WR group (and Travis Kelce) to win this game by a score of 35-28.

Week 3: vs the Jaguars

The Chargers will beat the new-look and likely exciting Jags team in a 28-21 show-down.

Week 4: at the Texans

I don’t love the Texans direction over the past two seasons and I believe the Chargers mop the floor against Houston by a score of 42-17.

Week 5: at the Browns

I am quite sure that the Deshaun Watson-led Browns don’t keep pace with Herbert — as I believe the Chargers win 28-17.

Week 6: vs the Broncos

I trust in the Chargers offensive explosion to pull through in their first fight in a 35-27 victory.

Week 7: vs the Seahawks

I absolutely expect the Chargers to dominate the Geno Smith-led Seahawks by a score of 35-14.

Week 8: at the Falcons

I don’t foresee the Chargers being upset in this show-down, to say the least. I expect LA to win 35-17.

Week 9: at the 49ers

The Chargers will beat Trey Lance and the 49ers (who won’t return to the playoffs in the loaded NFC) in my opinion. I expect LA to win 31-17.

Week 10: vs the Chiefs

I picked KC to drop this game and I still expect the Chargers to re-group and split games with their nemesis in Kansas City. I believe KC wins 35-21.

Week 11: at the Cardinals

I like how the Chargers match up to the Cardinals — as I project them to win 35-24.

Week 12: at the Raiders

I really believe the Chargers pull through with the sweep this week — as they beat the desperate Raiders 31-28.

Week 13: vs the Dolphins

I like the direction with the Dolphins and their chances to make the playoffs, but I believe LA is one step ahead of the Raiders. I expect LV to win 31-24 in this contest.

Week 14: vs the Titans

I honestly believe the Titans are an underrated pick to land a Top-10 draft selection in the 2023 draft. With that said, I believe LA wins 35-17 in this game.

Week 15: at the Colts

I love the Colts balance and how they match up to LA. Although, I trust the young, big-arm Herbert at this point of the season slightly more than Matty Ice himself. Hence, I believe LA wins 31-28.

Week 16: vs the Rams

I like the LA team with Aaron Donald more than the LA team with Khalil Mack. I believe the Rams win 42-35 in a high-scoring contest.

Week 17: at the Broncos

I believe Russell Wilson and the Broncos dig deep for their second divisional (as I also believe will have more reason to win) show-down — as they pull out a close, 27-24 victory.

Final record: 13-4

The post Projecting the Los Angeles Chargers record in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Joey Bosa has proven to be one of the NFL’s top pass rushers at 26 years old. The older Bosa brother has won Defensive Rookie of The Year and made four Pro Bowl selections thus far.

There is a massive question that many Chargers/NFL fans have in regard to Bosa’s end-destination: Is Bosa on the path to becoming a Hall of Famer? It’s clear that Bosa’s new teammate Khalil Mack is a future Hall of Famer, but it’s less certain if the grandson of Joe “Batters” is headed to Canton. So, is Bosa’s path special enough to earn him a gold jacket.

With that said, here is the success of Bosa’s first six seasons in comparison to the statistics of the first six seasons of “Khalil Mack and J.J. Watt”.

Joey Bosa

• 58 sacks
• 129 QB hits
• 73 tackles for loss

J.J. Watt

• 74.5 sacks
• 214 QB hits
• 133 tackles for loss

Khalil Mack

• 61.5 sacks
• 116 QB hits
• 76 tackles for loss

It’s quite fascinating that the Chargers fierce pass-rushing duo have a very similar six-year outcome. Of course, Mack has won Defensive Player of The Year (2016) and he made three All-Pro teams (2015, 2016, and 2018). I believe that Bosa is on a terrific path of consistency and dominance, but I honestly believe he needs to have at least 60 more career sacks (with other very elite career stats) to crack a HOF spot. If Bosa can really crack a couple of All-Pro teams, while being dominant for five seasons, he should finish as a HOF player.

The Saints legend Rickey Jackson unveiled a very impressive 136 career sacks, but he didn’t win a DPOY award or make any All-Pro teams. He did make the HOF after retiring in 1995, but he didn’t obtain a gold jacket until 2010. If Bosa doesn’t earn an All-Pro nod, his childhood dream of making it into the HOF could come to fruition if he has a similar career output as Jackson.

The post Is Joey Bosa a future Hall of Famer? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Khari Demos

And just like that, the AFC West might be the best division in the NFL. I mean, maybe even ever. Just look at how deep the division is at quarterback alone.

Absolute superstars, Pro Bowlers, and dare I say multiple Hall of Fame-level players. Russell Wilson was brought in to revive the Broncos. Justin Herbert seems poised to take the crown with the Chargers. Patrick Mahomes has had it since starting in 2018. And don’t forget the tough-as-nails Derek Carr, who just got his best friend to join him in supreme wideout Davante Adams.

So the only thing to do was to build elite pass-rushing units to stop them. First LA traded for 2016 Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack. Then Denver stole away Randy Gregory from the Cowboys. KC was able to bring back Frank Clark to play next to three-time Pro Bowler Chris Jones. Then it was Chandler Jones, as he joined the silver and black in Las Vegas ”” just days after the Raiders inked Maxx Crosby to a $94 million extension.

Things got spooky there over night. There are so many names of note here and they all should be feared. But who has the best duo to get after the QB? Here’s how I’ve got them ranked:

4. Denver Broncos

While I do like Gregory and all the talent he possesses, I’m not too sure if his $70 million price tag isn’t a little rich. In five seasons played (across seven years, due to suspensions), the Nebraska product has never topped more than six sacks in a season. In 2021, he had career-highs with 17 QB hits and 29 total pressures.

I know stats don’t mean everything, but it’s hard to ignore Gregory’s lack thereof. He might be more of a presence than the numbers would show, but he also should be producing similarly to players in his pay range. Gregory’s average annual salary ($14 million) is just behind Danielle Hunter ($14.4 million) and right above Yannick Ngakoue ($13 million).

Ngakoue has had six seasons with eight or more sacks in his career, while Hunter has gone for six or more in each of his six seasons, including three seasons with 12.5 or more. Gregory, on the other hand, tied a career-best with six last season. Gregory could argue for being a more complete player than Ngakoue, but he has not been nearly as consistent as Hunter, even after he missed 10 games last season.

Now Gregory’s new pass-rushing partner, Bradley Chubb, is an extremely talented player in his own right. The 2018 first-round pick came out blazing hot to start his career, tallying 12 sacks as a rookie. After tearing his ACL in 2019, Chubb put together a Pro Bowl 2020 campaign where he recorded 7.5 sacks, 19 QB hits and 34 pressures.

But the injury bug bit Chubb again in 2021, as he missed 10 games due to an ankle injury.

As consistent of a performer as the NC State product is on the field, his availability has hampered his status ”” since 2019, Chubb has played 23 games for an average of 7.67 per season. So health permitting, Chubb could build a great tandem with Gregory. But thinking about their lack of availability ”” Gregory has only played in 22 games since 2019 ”” this unit may have the most question marks coming in.

3. Kansas City Chiefs

The KC pass rush starts and ends with Jones, as he’s posted four straight seasons at 7.5 sacks or more. In fact, amongst all players since 2018, the three-time All-Pro ranks fourth in the NFL in terms of sacks. Jones’ 41 trail only Aaron Donald (59), Myles Garrett (51.5), and Cameron Jordan (47.5) in that span.

That type of production is unique, especially for a defensive tackle. The former Mississippi State Bulldog only trails Donald in terms of sacks from players at the position since ’18. Jones is also the king of pushing the pocket from the interior ”” not only does he have 29 career pass deflections, Jones has totaled 154 pressures since 2018 as well.

But as a DT, Jones needed a formidable counterpart with him on the edge. Enter Clark, as he’s made three consecutive Pro Bowls since coming in from Seattle. Now he may not have the sack totals (18.5 since 2019), but his pressure rates overall are tremendously high.

With 46 QB hits over the past three seasons, Clark has also compiled 81 total pressures in that stretch. But the Michigan product really turned up the heat in postseason play ”” while with the Chiefs, Clark recorded a sack in five of his first six playoff games for a total of eight.

But both Clark and Jones had their struggles last postseason, as they both were held sackless in games against the Steelers, Bills, and Bengals. Ironically, Jones has yet to earn a postseason sack throughout his career.

Jones may be one of the top DTs overall in the league, and Clark may be one of the biggest disruptors in the game coming off the edge. But being able to send double teams Jones’ way inside, and Clark’s inability to top double-digit sacks since 2018, this duo does seem to have a bit of a ceiling in terms of being the go-to pass rush in the division.

2. Las Vegas Raiders

Jones and Crosby, in my opinion, bring the most flash as a tandem. Mad Maxx is coming off his first All-Pro selection this season, as he netted eight sacks, 30 QB hits, 19 QB knockdowns, and 42 total pressures.

The 2021 season may have been a coming out party for Crosby nationally, but he’s been superb throughout his Raiders tenure. He’s recorded seven or more sacks in each of his three seasons, as well as 31 or more total pressures in each of those seasons. Not to make light of the situation, but that’s amazing considering the struggles Crosby had with his addiction early on in the league.

For Jones, he was stellar in Arizona once again ”” with 10.5 sacks in 2021, the Syracuse product recorded his seventh double-digit sack season in his career. Jones also added 26 QB hits, 17 QB knockdowns, and 36 total pressures.

Not to hate on a player I have rooted for as a native of Western New York personally (just down the road from his home of Rochester), but Jones’ 2021 season is a bit inflated with the sack numbers. You must remember, the four-time Pro Bowler registered five against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1, so that means he had 5.5 in his final 14 games played.

And that’s not to diminish him for his ’21 season, that’s just the facts of the matter. Maybe this was a byproduct of Haason Reddick joining the Panthers last season. But that’s definitely not a sight you like to see for a player who’s entering the twilight of his career at age 32.

I struggled so much with this one so much because I believe so much in this duo. Ironically, I think what held me back from making them #1 was because I think they’re more complete, dominant edge players, rather than just elite in the pass rush part of things. Yes, they both are known to get after QBs, but I believe their biggest strengths show in the run game as well.

So with that being said, we have our last duo to crown.

1. Los Angeles Chargers

Bosa and Mack have the potential to be one of the greatest edge rushing duos ever. Bosa tallied 10.5 sacks last season, the fourth time he’s gone for double-digits in his six career seasons. The two seasons he didn’t? He was on pace to do so, but he missed 15 total games of action to slow him down a bit (2018, 2020).

The Ohio State product has been downright scary over the past three seasons ”” since 2019, Bosa has posted 54, 45, and 43 pressures in those respective campaigns.

Now comes in Mack, a four-time All-Pro and 2010s All-Decade performer. From 2015-20, Mack had 8.5 sacks or more in each season, including a career-high 15 in 2015. That streak ended in 2021, but the numbers lie a bit on that.

Mack only totaled six sacks on the season, but he did that in only seven games played after going through foot surgery in November. My former UB teammate also wrecked havoc in terms of pressures before the ’21 campaign, posting 47, 45, and 31 in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively.

The case I really want to make for these two is that they’ve played some of their best ball when they had another formidable rusher with them. Whether it was Mack having 21.5 sacks in 2016 and 2017 playing across from Bruce Irvin, or his 12.5 with a healthy Akiem Hicks inside in Chicago in 2018, as well as Bosa’s 47.5 sacks in his first five seasons playing the opposite side of Melvin Ingram, the numbers bear proof.

So I’m taking the tandem that has a former NFL DPOY and has combined for 10 Pro Bowl selections. There’s a lot of different ways you can look at this argument, but Mack and Bosa seem to be just a notch above when it comes to getting after QBs, in my opinion.

But above all, we get to watch them all chase Russ, Herbert, Carr, and Mahomes all season. Man oh man, get your popcorn ready.

The post Ranking the pass rushing duos in the AFC West appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Chargers have easily had the most successful offseason in 2022 thus far. Brandon Staley’s squad has brought back Mike Williams, traded for Khalil Mack, signed J.C. Jackson, and has made other under-the-radar free-agent signings. In particular, the Chargers defense has received a significant boost in 2022.

With that enunciated, the question is: what is the most dreamy expectation of the Chargers new-look defense? Well, I believe the Chargers should be confident that they can display one of the most potent defensive units in the NFL next season.

The Chargers were the 12th best pass defense (passing YPG allowed) in the NFL last season. Meanwhile, the J.C. Jackson-led Patriots pass defense was the second-best pass defense last season. Interestingly, the Khalil Mack-led Bears defense displayed the third-best pass defense last season. I really believe the Chargers defense that already featured the very talented Derwin James and Joey Bosa last season can be a Top 5 pass defense in the NFL next season.

I fully understand Jackson and Mack weren’t solely responsible for their defensive success last season. Mack had a ton of help from Robert Quinn and Jackson was benefited from the defensive guru Bill Belichick. I still believe the combination of talent from the 2021 Chargers defense joined by Mack and Jackson should propel them into a Top 5 unit. Well, why do I not feel bold enough to pin them as favorites to boast the top pass defense in the league? I simply believe Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes will make it difficult for them to be the NFL’s top pass defense.

The Chargers might have had a modest pass defense in 2021, but they were far from an impressive defense overall. There were only two teams that gave up more points per game than the Chargers last season. I really believe Jackson will help the Chargers give up fewer big plays and Mack will “hulk smash” and be helpful in numerous ways, as well. The Chargers might play in the wild AFC West, but that’s not an excuse to be a completely dreadful defense. After all, the Denver Broncos had the second-best defense in PPG allowed in 2021. I expect the Chargers to take a significant jump in this pivotal category in 2022 (Top 10) and yield a terrifying defense moving forward.

The post What is the ceiling of the Chargers defense? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Minnesota Vikings feature the pass rusher Danielle Hunter, who is undeniably one of the top pass rushers in the NFC. Hunter’s talent has been noticed by numerous other NFL squads in the league and it’s been reported by Bleacher Report that other teams have interest in the trade market. According to Judd Zulgad of SKOR North, the Bills were one of the teams to inquire about Hunter.

The Bills have been a popular trade destination for Hunter, as Pro Football Focus suggested that the Bills should trade for Hunter in late February. There is no rejection of the talent Hunter displays. Here is a closer look at the magic that Hunter has unveiled in his career thus far:

• Two-time Pro Bowl selection
• Three seasons of 12.5+ sacks
• Five seasons of 15+ tackles for loss

The 27-year-old edge rusher is still a very superb pass rusher (six sacks in seven games last season), but he has had some injury concerns in the past two seasons. He missed the entire 2020 season with a torn pectoral muscle and he missed 10 games last season with a torn pectoral injury. It’s clear that he’s still elite, but he’s had injury issues and he has a $20 million roster bonus due on March 20th.

The Vikings could look to retool their roster this offseason and Hunter might be a smart player to move on from at this point. It’s also true that the Bills would be a very logical fit. The Bills had the number one overall defense in 2021, but they were ranked 12th in sacks. They could be interested in adding an elite edge rusher that can shine on the big stage against the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow.

The Bills have shown that they won’t take the gas off the pedal, as they’ve already acquired the elite Stefon Diggs in recent memory. They should strike big on another profile in Hunter. The LA Rams brought in Von Miller in 2021, the Chargers brought in Khalil Mack in 2022, and now it may be time for the Bills to bring in the imposing, shifty Hunter.

The post Should the Bills trade for Danielle Hunter? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox has been one of the top DL in the NFL for a long time. Here is a look at how potent the Eagles DT has been in his career:

*stats are according to Pro Football Reference

• 58 career sacks
• 313 combined tackles
• Six time Pro Bowl selection
• All-Pro in 2018

It’s clear that Philly has been blessed by the football gods with Cox’s presence. He truly has a good chance of going into the Eagles ring of honor. Nonetheless, the veteran DT’s outlook with the Eagles is murky. He’s an aging 31 DT and he’s on a young, ascending Eagles squad.

According to NBC Sports, teams are calling to acquire Cox. The NFL world witnessed Khalil Mack recently get traded and it appears Cox could be the next mythical DT to be exchanged from his squad. With that said, what are the best landing spots for Cox?

• Arizona Cardinals

I don’t expect Kliff Kingsbury and Sean McVay to take their foot off the pedal in 2022. I foresee the Cardinals squad that has reeled in J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, and Zach Ertz to be strongly interested in the talent of Cox. The Cardinals could lose the edge rusher Chandler Jones and bring in a more dominant “DL” in Cox. The 49ers and Rams both played in the NFC Championship last season. Kingsbury knows he needs to roll the dice to be competitive in the wild NFC West.

• Los Angeles Chargers

Brandon Staley is making sure that the Chargers come out guns blazing in 2022, especially with Justin Herbert carrying his rookie contract. The Rams built an unearthly pass rush with Von Miller and Aaron Donald. It may be time for Staley to unleash Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Cox in 2022. The Chargers could really lean on their front four to harass Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Derek Carr.

• Tennesee Titans

The Tennesee Titans can’t afford to slip in 2022 with Derrick Henry after claiming the one seed in 2021. Cox and Harold Landry (12 sacks) would be a fierce pass-rushing combination in the frigid AFC conference. The Titans are clearly serious about reaching the Super Bowl with Derrick Henry and Julio Jones. Their sound roster might be one piece away from winning a Lombardi trophy and Cox could be the missing ingredient.

The post Top trade destinations for Fletcher Cox: should the Chargers acquire Cox? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

A few short months ago I was writing articles about general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy’s impending firings, so I understand as well as anyone that a Chicago Bears Super Bowl run sounds a bit farfetched right now, but NFL franchises often flip the script overnight in this league and it can all start with one move.

Now I know I just finished saying that Chicago’s chances aren’t reliant on Fields’ immediate stardom, and they’re not, but his potential as a generational quarterback talent is certainly the conductor of the hype train.

Truth is, I have been against this regime for quite some time. The trade up for the unproven Mitchell Trubisky, the horrid playcalling by Nagy that seemed to stunt the growth of not only Trubisky but running back David Montgomery, the indecision at QB and the miserable ideas to bring in Nick Foles and Andy Dalton as “saviors” when every NFL fan under the sun knows that these veterans are no more than underwhelming game managers. Yes, I know Foles won a Super Bowl, but that Philadelphia Eagles roster was built like a tank and this Bears one is not.

It’s been a tough road for Bears fans ever since Vic Fangio’s defense (led by Khalil Mack) shattered expectations in 2018. Not tough like 1-15 record tough, but more “what could have been” tough. The knowledge that your putrid offense is holding back and possibly wasting a championship caliber defense is difficult to stomach (especially when you traded a ton of your future draft capital for the catalyst of that unit in Mack).

This defense has a window, and that window is closing fast. Mack is under contract till 2025, but his cap hit is exorbitant after 2021 (unless Chicago takes the potential out next offseason at a $24 million dollar hit). That 2018 group has already seen losses like Fangio (DC), Kyle Fuller (CB1), Adrian Amos (S), Prince Amukamara (CB2, age caught up fast here), Bryce Callahan (slot), Leonard Floyd (edge) and more. Mack’s departure could be the final nail in the coffin, sealing that window for good.

The emergence of a unique prospect like Fields at QB gives Chicago a shot in 2021, but there are a few other factors that have a Jets fan like me all aboard the Bears bandwagon.

1. NFC in Decline

With Drew Brees retiring, the NFC East in total dissarray, Aaron Rodgers wanting out of Green Bay, and the NFC West all beating up on eachother, there aren’t many Super Bowl favorites in the NFC outside of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In what has become a conference shift in strength, we now see a lot of the bright young quarterbacks in the AFC (Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson should he return to Houston) while the NFC is left wanting.

An Aaron Rodgers trade to a franchise like the Denver Broncos could totally blow the doors off this conversation. Not only that, it would leave a gaping hole in the NFC North with the Detroit Lions rebuilding and the Minnesota Vikings as a playoff bubble team at best. The Green Bay Packers are one of the NFC’s (and Bears’) strongest competitors left, and if there’s any truth to the rumors, that Cheesehead locomotive may have already flown off the tracks.

2. Phenomenal ’21 Draft

We all know about the Justin Fields selection, but the Bears 2021 draft went much further than that. Pace was drafting like his job was on the line and he answered the bell with some really solid picks.

Just after trading up to get the franchise QB, Pace was able to nab the left tackle to pair with him for years to come, in Teven Jenkins. Many thought the Oklahoma State Cowboys 6’6″ tackle would go in the first, but he slipped to day two and the Bears did not hesitate. Later on he bulked the offensive line again, drafting upside guard prospect Larry Borom out of Missouri.

One trouble area may be cornerback with Fuller gone, but sixth rounder Thomas Graham Jr. had sleeper grades from many analysts out of Oregon. The former Duck could help fill the void, but Chicago will also need something from 2020 second rounder Jaylon Johnson (just turned 22 in April), and free agent flier Desmond Trufant.

3. Key Vets Returning After 2020 Season

I wasn’t particularly high on the 2020 Bears defense, in part because I knew the offense would struggle, but also because some instrumental pieces were missing.

One major cog to account for was nose tackle Eddie Goldman, a 2020 COVID opt-out. Goldman had 40-plus tackles in 2017 and ’18 as one of the premier run-stuffers in the game. 2021 is only his age-27 season, so Chicago will count on the DT to return with avengeance after a year on the pine.

Alongside Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn, this unit is still very formidable up front. The linebacker core also flaunts Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan in the middle, with free safety Eddie Jackson over the top. LB Christian Jones joins this crew, and they’ll also look to re-sign or replace strong safety Tash Gipson before preseason begins. Gipson started all 16 games with the Bears a season ago, and is currently an unrestricted free agent.

Let’s not forget the offensive side of the ball, as Pace held onto wide receiver Allen Robinson for dear life. New faces like Damien Williams, Damiere Byrd, Dazz Newsome, Khalil Herbert and Marquise Goodwin add some versatility to a group that needs to get more creative behind Fields and Nagy.

This defense may be slightly diminished from 2018, but it’s still pretty darn good, and this offense could theoretically become much more dynamic with a quarterback like Fields at the helm. Am I slightly worried that Nagy may just be a terrible coach? Absolutely. This is a make or break season for the HC though, so I expect him to pull out all the stops.

At the very least, I see the Bears as a playoff team again in 2021, but at +4800 odds right now on FanDuel Sportsbook, Chicago may just be the biggest sleeper pick to win Super Bowl LVI.

The post The Chicago Bears are top NFC Super Bowl Sleepers in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The dust has cleared away and It’s been nearly three years since one of the biggest NFL trades of the decade occurred. The trade that shocked the football world: Las Vegas Raiders trade Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears. The disgruntled All-Pro Mack was shipped along with a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick to the Bears for two first-rounders, a third-rounder, and a sixth-rounder. The question begs to ask as a few years have passed: which team won the blockbuster exchange?

What did the Raiders get?

Let’s start with the more mysterious case. The Raiders used the draft choices they garnered in the trade on Josh Jacobs, Damon Arnette, and Bryan Edwards. Jacobs has 2,215 combined rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns in his first two seasons. CB Damon Arnette was a rookie last year, but had bright moments and proved to be a locked-in starter heading into 2021. Then last, but not least: Bryan Edwards. Edwards had a mere 11 receptions for 193 yards and hasn’t shown yet that he will be a long-term fit in Gruden’s design.

At first glance, it may appear that the Raiders used the picks to get a few starting-caliber players. After looking closer, it’s evident that Las Vegas didn’t get a highly gifted asset, nor multiple profiles that seem to change the tide of the game. Jacobs was a quality addition, but there’s lots of reason to believe the Raiders would have found a player at the less prioritized RB position with near the same production.

The Raiders cleared lots of money off the books with pardoning Mack, but haven’t broken the bank on any notable acquisitions to date. There’s little reason to believe that any extensions would have been impossible by retaining the All-Pro defender.

What did the Bears get?

The Bears were gifted a future Hall of Fame pass rusher from Gruden’s squad. Mack was a Defensive Player of The Year type of player for the Raiders and continued to be top of the barrel in the Windy City. 

Mack knocked out 12.5 sacks and was All-Pro in his first year of vengeance as a Bear. Over the past two seasons, Mack registered 8.5+ sacks each year. Mack hasn’t reclaimed his All-Pro status, but his attention has been met in nearly every game. His contributions have also been indispensable amid a team that’s reached the playoffs with dreadful QB performances.

The Bears have reached the playoffs and now have found a very talented franchise QB in Justin Fields, despite giving up the hefty draft compensation. There have been glimpses of damage put on the Bears offense with its lack of talent, but they’ve leaned on their defense — which has come through on plenty of occasions. On the outlook, Mack is only 30 years old and clearly holds a few more seasons of high performance. 

Verdict:

The Bears win the Khalil Mack trade. The Raiders discovered a quality RB in Josh Jacobs, along with a couple of other quality contributors. Yet, Gruden’s choices of talent to be picked with the draft picks obtained from the Mack trade and extra cap space have not even obtained an elite standard as a whole. Mack continues to be a player that changes the game — whether he’s making the play, or creating opportunities for another teammate. The Bears hold an elite Hall of Fame player on a team that’s found their franchise QB and will look to return to the playoffs in the competitive NFC North

The post Reflecting on the Khalil Mack trade: Who won? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Adam Martin

Khalil Mack has been one of the best edge rushers in the league for a few years now. He was drafted by the then named Oakland Raiders in 2014 before moving to Chicago in 2018. Although the Bears have not been the best team around they have been a strong defence for a few years now. This has mainly been due to Mack and his leadership in the front seven. With that in mind we look at if Khalil Mack is currently a top five defender.

Why Khalil Mack is in the top five

One of the biggest reasons that Kahlil Mack should be considered a top five guy is his consistency. The guy has played 16 games every season apart from in 2018 and even then he only missed two games. Its all well and good being on the field but Mack has also produced every year he has played. He has averaged 10 sacks a season throughout his career and there is no reason that wont continue. He has also averaged around 60 tackles a season showing that he produces all of the time.

Although you can look at Mack’s stats and say that he did more with the Raiders many years ago that was because he had to do more. Since being in Chicago he has been in a better team and more importantly a better defence. Having players like Robert Quinn will bring Mack’s numbers down compared to who he had helping him out at the Raiders. Mack’s numbers may have reduced but his quality is still high and he is still impressive.

In 2018 when he moved to Chicago he produced a total of 45 tackles and 12.5 sacks in a big opening year. However, since the 2019 season people have been saying that Mack is in decline which is just untrue. In 2019 he had 45 total tackles and 8.5 sacks and then in 2020 he had 47 total tackles and 9 sacks. Aaron Donald won the defensive player of the year with 44 total tackles and 13.5 sacks. Mack had more tackles in the season showing how consistent he was. Ok, he didn’t get as many sacks but your comparing him to the top defensive player in the NFL. Although they play in slightly different positions the stats still show how strong Mack is.

On the whole it shows that Mack is still a quality defensive player and is not far away from being the best in the NFL. He is on a team that has some other strong defenders that will help him keep them stats up. Mack is only 30 years old and has a few more years left in the tank at the top level. If the Bears have a good season this year, especially on the defence, he will easily be a top five defensive player.

Why Khalil Mack is not in the top five

The biggest reason anyone has for Mack not being a top five defensive player is the signs of decline. When he was at the Raiders he was producing some insane numbers. Now that he is at Chicago his numbers have slowly fallen although still good. During his four years with the Raiders he had 282 total tackles and 40.5 sacks. In his three years at Chicago he has only produced 137 total tackles and 30 sacks. He has no chance of reaching the numbers in Chicago in the same time as he did with the Raiders.

On top of the slide in stats in Chicago he is now 30 years old and that will only hinder his ability. He still has a few more years of potentially elite talent but normally players start to drop off now. There are so many players who are reaching the latter stages of their career and you see they cant do what they did. Mack is starting to show signs of this already and it could get worse quite quickly.

It is not surprising that Mack is starting to slow down given the amount of work he got through with the Raiders. Currently Nick Bosa is considered one of the best in Mack’s position but he didnt do anywhere near as much as Mack did. If you just take their rookie year Bosa had 42 total tackles and nine sacks in 14 games started. Mack was forced to play all 16 games with 72 tackles and four sacks. That was the story for all four years he was with the Raiders and now the burnout will be there to see.

Mack is a quality player but there is some serious competition at this position which might stop him being a top five player. Nick Bosa is expected to come back from a long injury and he could be back to normal. Za’Darius Smith has been excellent for Green Bay and will likely be a top five guy. Shaquil Barrett is back with Tampa Bay looking for another Superbowl. Plus there are guys like Chandler Jones, T.J Watt, Cam Jordan and Joey Bosa. It will be tough for Mack to get back to the numbers he previously produced in order to get back in to the top five defensive players.

Verdict

Overall you have to feel that Khalil Mack is still a quality defensive player but he is not what he was. He has shown in the last two years that he has declined and at his age it will be tough to get them numbers back. Also with the other defensive players around Mack wont make it into the top five defensive players.

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