The Ravens emerge as a significant threat, vying for the veteran pass rusher the Bears desperately need to bolster their defense.
It's no secret that the Chicago Bears have a clear need for another pass rusher on the defensive line.
Montez Sweat had a productive season, finishing with 10 sacks, 53 total tackles, 13 TFLs, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Outside of him, the Bears really didn't have another dominant pass rusher.
Gervon Dexter had six sacks, followed by Austin Booker, who had 4.5. Then, there wasn't another pass rusher for the Bears who was proficient in getting to the opposing quarterback.
The Bears were already thin in their pass rush after free-agent signing Dayo Odeyingbo suffered a season-ending Achilles tear. The team finished 22nd in the NFL with 35 sacks.
There have been mock trades thrown around surrounding Maxx Crosby, and the possibility of bringing in Myles Garrett has been floated around, too.
Another option for the Bears lies in free agency, which is a Khalil Mack reunion. Mack played for the Bears from 2018-2021, and went to the Pro Bowl every year with Chicago except his last.
The nine-time Pro Bowler would give the Chicago pass rush a much-needed boost. He had 5.5 sacks, 32 total tackles and six TFLs for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. Mack is set to hit the free agent market when it opens on March 11.
However, the Bears aren't the only team looking to add Mack.
PFF's Dalton Wasserman released a list of some free agent signings that just made sense, and had Mack going to the Baltimore Ravens instead of the Bears.
The Ravens had far fewer sacks than the Bears. Baltimore recorded 30 sacks in 2025 and didn't have a single player finish with 10. Their best pass rusher in terms of sacks was Travius Jones with five.
If the Bears do have to compete with the Ravens for Mack, they already have a relationship with him, since he played for the franchise previously.
We'll have to see how bad Chicago really wants Mack if this becomes a reality. Mack would be a considerably cheaper option than trading for either Crosby or Garrett. Mack just had his one-year, $18 million contract with the Chargers expire.
He may even be willing to take a cheaper deal with Chicago, since he is getting up there in age. Mack turned 34 in 2026.
Whether it's through an offseason trade or free agency, it's clear that the pass rush will need to be addressed before the start of the 2026 season.