The Chicago Bears have committed to winning now by agreeing to acquire Jeffery Simmons. Their next move should reinforce that investment by bringing Khalil Mack back from the Los Angeles Chargers.

After agreeing to send the Tennessee Titans first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 plus a 2027 fourth-rounder for Simmons and a 2028 fifth-rounder Thursday, the Bears should pursue another impact defender at a lower acquisition cost. The Simmons trade remains pending a physical. Offering the Atlanta Falcons’ 2027 fifth-round pick for Mack would be a sensible starting point before the November 10 NFL trade deadline.

That is a proposed offer, not a reported agreement. But the interest is real. ESPN’s Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter reported that the Bears are expected to have interest in Mack.

Why Mack fits the Bears after Simmons trade

Simmons strengthens the interior, but the Bears still need dependable pressure from the edge. Montez Sweat has two sacks after recording 10 last season. He returns for Monday’s game at the Seattle Seahawks after serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.

Dayo Odeyingbo remains on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury. Sweat’s return helps, but adding another credible rusher would protect the rotation from further absences.

Mack would provide defensive coordinator Dennis Allen with another option opposite Sweat, with Simmons and Grady Jarrett inside. An interior defender who commands protection attention can create better opportunities outside. Adding Mack would give the Bears another player capable of exploiting those openings.

The expectations must match his age. At 35, Mack should supplement the pass rush through a managed rotation, particularly on passing downs. Three sacks this season support that role without requiring the Bears to project another Defensive Player of the Year campaign.

His previous Bears tenure produced 36 sacks from 2018 through 2021. Familiarity adds appeal, but his ability to help this defense should drive the decision.

A Bears reunion requires discipline on price

The fifth-rounder acquired in the Gervon Dexter trade gives the Bears a concrete asset to offer without further draining their premium selections. It would provide a reasonable starting point for negotiations, though the Chargers could seek more or decline to move Mack altogether.

The financial obligation also requires planning. Mack’s one-year, $18 million contract includes a $10 million signing bonus that remains the Chargers’ responsibility. An acquiring team would assume the prorated remainder of Mack’s $8 million base salary, approximately $4 million if traded at the deadline.

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The Bears would need to create additional cap room. A salary conversion could help, but pushing charges forward still carries a cost. Mack’s pending free agency makes restraint especially important.

The larger obstacle is availability. Despite their winless start, the Chargers have resisted selling. The Bears cannot assume that stance will change or that a reunion will happen.

At 5-2, Chicago has a competitive foundation. Improving the rotation now would give that roster more options for the season’s most demanding games.

The Bears should keep calling while holding their price. Simmons supplies a long-term cornerstone; Mack could provide a short-term complement. A modest pick and manageable salary adjustment would strengthen the playoff push without repeating Thursday’s enormous commitment.