Ryan Poles opens up on the Khalil Mack trade
On March 10, 2022, the Chicago Bears sent superstar edge rusher Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for 2nd and 6th round picks.
The reactions were very mixed. Bears fans were heartbroken but, the majority understood the business aspect of it. It was clearly the right move to do for the future of the team.
Today, Courtney Cronin of ESPN had the chance to talk with GM Ryan Poles who was responsible for the trade.
Poles said trading Khalil Mack was a difficult thing but a situation that was "best for the club." "I think the cool thing is having the ability to call Khalil and having those conversations with him and also making sure that I put him in a really good situation." Poles said
" I wasn't going to send him somewhere where he wasn't happy. That he could compete, that he could do a good job and (whether) it's finishing out his career there or whatever. I just wanted to make sure that he knew that I cared and wanted to put him in a good situation." he added.
Finally, Poles called the Khalil Mack trade "win-win" for the linebacker, the Chargers and the Bears "in terms of the direction that we're all going."
I love that Poles went out of his way to be as respectful to Khalil as he could. He was not obligated to operate this way. He could have made a deal with any team without talking to Mack. However, Ryan Poles chose to respect Mack's desire and I think it shows his true character. After everything that Khalil Mack has done for the franchise, it was the least he could do.
