The Chicago Bears have decided to end their relationship with edge rusher Khalil Mack. The six-time Pro Bowl defensive end will have a new home in Los Angeles.

There have been some shocking trades to kick off the NFL offseason and this one is definitely one of them. After just three seasons with the Bears, Mack is being sent to the Chargers in exchange for a small package of picks.

This is the first major move of Ryan Poles' career in Chicago after having just been hired in January of 2022. As General Manager, Poles will be forced to make tough decisions, the question is, was this the right one? Losing a six-time Pro Bowler for two picks is questionable.

The reason for this trade could stem from injury issues that Mack has suffered, or to free up salary-cap space. All teams in the NFL must be salary-cap compliant by Thursday, March 17th, 2022. Along with two draft picks, the Los Angeles Chargers are taking on Mack's entire contract.

Mack had three seasons left on his contract and was owed $17.75 million in 2022, $22.9 million in '23, and $23.25 million in '24. On its surface, this should prove to be a smart financial move by the Bears in the future. This allows them more room to sign the offensive players they desperately need.

For the Chargers, they needed another pass-rusher to go along with Joey Bosa. They also had the cap space to pull off this trade and didn't lose much in terms of picks. In the trade for Mack, the Chargers will send a 2022 second-round draft pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick to Chicago.

Mack will also be reunited with Head Coach Brandon Staley, who was Mack's linebacker coach when he first arrived in Chicago. In his first season with the Bears, Mack put up a total of 12.5 sacks, the most during his time there.

This new home for Mack could prove to be just what the 31-year old needs. The attention of offensive lines will be split between him and Bosa, allowing Mack to excel. Perhaps the most important part will be the relationship between Mack and Staley.

Staley said this when he was first hired as the Chargers head coach: "I learned a lot more from Khalil Mack than he learned from me,'' Staley said at the time. "I drew a lot of confidence being able to coach a guy like him and I think that that first season in Chicago and that first experience, I felt like, you know, I could do this someday.''