NFL
Oakland Raiders Trade Khalil Mack To Bears
Earlier today, NFL insider Ian Rapport announced that the Oakland Raiders are no longer looking to re-sign Khalil Mack. The Raiders and Mack needed to come to an agreement on a contract by today, or else he would not be able to start in Week 1. Their Week 1 opponent- the Los Angeles Rams- just signed their defensive end Aaron Donald to a six-year, $135 million contract extension yesterday.
The Chicago Bears signed Mack to a six-year, $141 million contract. $90 million of that is guaranteed.
In return for Mack, the Raiders received the Bears’ 2019 and 2020 first-round picks. As well as a 2019 sixth-round pick. Aside from receiving the all-star pass rusher, the Bears got the Raiders’ 2020 second-round pick.
The #Bears and star pass-rusher Khalil Mack have agreed to terms on a massive 6-year, $141M contract extension, source said. Total value: $155M over 7. $90M guaranteed. $60M fully guaranteed at signing. $23.5M new money average. Nicely done.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018
Mack was picked fifth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Raiders. In his rookie year, Mack recorded four sacks and one forced fumble. In his career with Oakland, he has recorded 40.5 sacks and 185.5 QB pressures- which leads the NFL in that time frame. Mack has earned multiple All-Pro honors and received DPOY in 2016.
Oakland trading away the three-time Pro-Bowler is huge. They already struggle on the defensive side of things, they only recorded one interception the whole 2017 season and ranked 23rd in overall team defense last year. Everyone knows that it takes more than one great pass rusher to make a defense. But where does this put the Raiders now?
Devastation For NFC North
Since Green Bay and Detroit, both re-signed their quarterbacks this off-season, and the Vikings made significant trades to make Kirk Cousins their quarterback, the NFC North has been the talk around the NFL lately. This leaves the Bears in the dust when it comes to the QB situation since they’re relying on their second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
Now the Bears are making moves by trading for Mack. Mack is one of the best defensive players in the NFL. This could mean huge problems for all these great QBs in the North. They all might know how to dodge pass rushers, but Mack is quick and agile. He knows how to reach a QB in and outside of the pocket.
Mack is going to be alongside the Bears’ 2016 first-round pick Leonard Floyd and this year’s first-round pick Roquan Smith. This means they could take their defense to better depths. It also gives Chicago a fighting chance in the race for NFC North division champs.
