With the trade deadline approaching, the 49ers and Bears are expected to be highly active, and the rumor mill has linked them to Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack.

For the Bears, trading for Mack would be the ultimate full-circle moment. Mack previously spent four strong seasons in Chicago (2018–2021). Adding Mack alongside Montez Sweat would instantly give the Bears one of the NFL's most formidable edge-rushing duos.

While the 49ers hold a strong lead in the NFC West, injuries have hurt their defensive front, most notably the loss of Nick Bosa to a calf injury in Week 2. The defense ranks 24th in the league in pressure rate. Adding Mack would aid that department as San Francisco looks to make another deep run.

Even though the 35-year-old Mack has shown he still has juice, he is in the final year of an expiring contract, and moving on from him to accumulate future draft assets should be a higher priority, given they are currently 0-6, a playoff berth looks unlikely.

The Bolts could likely land a fourth- or fifth-round pick for Mack.