With the 19th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears have selected Buffalo outside linebacker Khalil Mack.
And something tells us this guy is going to be a stud.
đ¨ SPOILER ALERT đ¨
The 19th pick of the first ever virtual #NFLDraft has been made and itâs @FiftyDeuce. đ¤ pic.twitter.com/i50Zo5nfJ6
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 23, 2020
The Bears are without a first-round pick for the second straight year after trading a pair of first rounders to the Las Vegas Raiders for Mack in 2018. But you can’t say that Mack hasn’t been worth the draft capital or the $141 million contract.
âObviously getting Mack was the priority,â general manager Ryan Pace said, via NBC Sports Chicago. âBut getting that two back was really important for us. Having two twoâs, I keep on going back to it, thatâs big.â
Not to mention, Pace’s first-round selections have been suspect, for the most part. So when there’s a chance to grab a generational talent, it’s no wonder he didn’t hesitate to go after Mack — even if it did cost two first-rounders, among others.
Mack’s impact on the Bears have been immeasurable in just two seasons. In 2018, Mack exploded onto the scene in his first start. Throughout the season he continued to prove that he’s one of the best players in the NFL. He tallied 47 tackles, 12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, four passes defensed and one interception in 14 games.
He followed that up with 47 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and four passes defensed in 16 games in 2019. While Mack’s production saw a dip last season, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. And it certainly doesn’t negate the impact that he’s had in Chicago.
The Bears brought in former All-Pro Robert Quinn to line up opposite him off the edge, and the pair are expected to wreak havoc — along with the rest of the defensive front seven — in 2020 and beyond.
But when all is said and done, the Bears still won the Khalil Mack trade. And Mack was absolutely worth two first-rounders.
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