Reports: Raiders Have Agreement In Place To Send Khalil Mack To Chicago

by Andrew Pasquini – Sports 1140 KHTK

According to multiple reports, the Oakland Raiders and Chicago Bears have an agreement that would send All-Pro pass-rusher Khalil Mack to the Bears. Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported that there is an “agreement in place.”

Sources to ESPN: Raiders and Bears have an agreement in place to trade Khalil Mack to Chicago. Still working through it, but Raiders now planning to send Mack to Chicago.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2018

Mack, the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, did not play in any preseason games this year because of him holding out for a new deal. His rookie deal expires at the end of this season and according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, Mack was “looking to become the first non-quarterback to make $20 million per year.”

On Friday, the Los Angeles Rams and Aaron Donald agreed to a six-year, $135 million extension that seemingly gave an idea to what Mack’s contract could look like. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, by the end of Saturday, Mack could have a deal with Chicago that would be even larger.

Before the end of the day, the #Bears are expected to negotiate a long-term deal with Khalil Mack that should eclipse the deal for Aaron Donald. Either way, Chicago just made a huge move.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018

The possibility of Mack being traded seemed low no more than a week ago but over the past 48 hours, rumors had been circulating that the possibility of a trade was “very real.” Then on Friday, reports came out saying that the price for Mack had been set at least two first-round picks. Reports are saying that the Bears have met the minimum price and then even more.

The most an NFL team has surrendered for a defensive player is when Vikings traded a 1, two 3’s and a swap of 5’s to Chiefs for DE Jared Allen. Bears trade for Khalil Mack, when it gets done, will top that, making it the most an NFL team has surrendered for a defensive player.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2018

It was reported that at least seven different teams were at least exploring the possibility of trading for Mack and according to Schefter, the Raiders had multiple offers that included multiple picks. However, Chicago ultimately offered the most and now the All-Pro will be a member of the Bears.

On Friday night, Mike Silver of NFL Network reported  that Raiders owner Mark Davis was “not excited” about the idea of trading Mack but that Raiders head coach Jon Gruden was far more open to the idea believing that the “type of financial commitment it would take to keep Mack could instead be used on multiple players to shore up a flawed defense.” The trade will save the Raiders at the very least $23 million per year over the next several years in money they would have given Mack had the two sides come to an agreement.

Mack, 27, since coming into the league has been a three-time Pro Bowler and has been named to first-team All-Pro twice. Since being drafted in 2014, Mack has 40.5 sacks, which is good for sixth most in that time frame. With the Bears running a 3-4 defensive, it is likely that Mack will move from the defensive line to outside linebacker.

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