Chicago Bears can finally hope for some brighter days. Bears decided to pull off what seems to be the most significant trade of the NFL offseason, and have acquired All-Pro offensive linebacker Khalil Mack from the Oakland Raiders over the weekend.
According to sources close to the organization, Bears gave up a first-round and a sixth-round pick in 2019 and first-round, third-round and a sixth-round pick in 2020. Besides Mack, Raiders are also sending a second-round and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2020.
DONE DEAL.
Welcome to Chicago, @52Mack_!!!
🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QkysLaHPDn— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 1, 2018
“We are excited to add a special playmaker like Khalil to our football team,” – said Bears general manager Ryan Pace. “He brings a ton on the field, but he fits what we are building in our locker room too. Elite defensive players in their prime are rare so when we knew we had a legit shot to acquire him, we did everything we thought necessary to get him. I’m confident the compensation to Oakland, including the return draft picks to us, and the contract extension for Khalil are fair to all parties. We are anxious to get Khalil to Chicago with his coaches and teammates.“
Although Khalil Mack is considered one of the best defensive players in the league, Oakland Raiders decided to start taking offers after the player failed to report for team’s OTAs and training camp. Mack was holding out in order to receive a huge new contract, something the Raiders apparently were not willing to give him.
Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said that although the entire organization including coach John Gruden wanted for Mack to stay with the franchise, they couldn’t meet his contract demands.
“We wanted, all of us – Gruden, myself, everybody in the organization — wanted Khalil to be a Raider. That’s not an issue at all. We presented him with an offer and we got that counter back and talked about it with him … and it just, what they were demanding, it just wasn’t going to work at that time … it didn’t work out in the end … we weren’t close. We presented prior to the start of the league year … Khalil got a great deal,” – said McKenzie.
Chicago Bears, on the other side, are more than willing to splash money on Mack and that’s just what they will do in the upcoming days. According to ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, Bears agreed to a contract extension with the 27-year-old, making him the highest paid defensive player in the league’s history. Mack will earn $23.5 million per season and is set to receive $60 million at signing and $90 million in guaranteed money. The previous record holder was LA Rams’ defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who recently signed an extension which will get him $22.5 million annually.
Oakland Raiders drafted Khalil Mack in 2014 with the fifth overall pick. Mack played 48 games in four years and received three Pro-Bowl selections and two First-team All-Pro honors while being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. His NFL career stats include 304 total tackles, 40.5 sack, nine forced fumbles, one interception and one defensive touchdown.
