A Chicago Bears Khalil Mack trade is something that has filled the dream of Bears fans for weeks. By now most people know the story. Mack is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. At age 27 he’s topped at least 10 sacks for three-straight years and has yet to miss a game in his career. Due to this success, he’s expecting to get paid like one of the best defenders in football.
Unfortunately for the Oakland Raiders, they underwent a significant change at the top at the worst possible time. Not only did they hire a new head coach in Jon Gruden, but they also gave him control of the 53-man roster. This means he decides who gets paid and who doesn’t. Gruden is not only an old school guy, he’s an offensive one.
Nevermind the fact he has limited front office experience. Suffice to say people should’ve seen this situation coming the moment he was hired. Would Gruden actually trade Mack? Some seem to think it’s a possibility. Not only would it net the Raiders a huge return in draft picks, but also save them a boatload of money. Both of which could be used to build up the roster.
This is why the rumors are rampant. The lingering question though is what would it cost the Bears to pull such a move off?
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Former exec reveals likely ballpark of a Bears Khalil Mack trade cost
Joel Corry of CBS Sports went to somebody with an area of expertise on this issue. Joe Banner has been an executive in three different NFL front offices spanning 20 years. He’s seen it all and has a keen understanding of how big trades tend to work. So when he was asked about the likely compensation needed to land Mack, he had a specific answer ready.
“I think the range is a 1, 3 and 7 on the low end to two 1s on the high end. A lot also depends on how high the 1 is. Maybe it’s a 1 and 2 if it’s fairly high, or two 1s if it’s lower,” said Banner. “Maybe a team would be smart to include a 1 with a quality player. Or a 1, a middle pick and a quality player. He (Mack) is as good or better than any of the players we have seen involved in these kinds of trades.”
In other words, there are varying factors to this. Were the Bears to trade for Mack it would depend on two keys: how high they’re picking in the draft and whether they wish to include a player in the deal. Getting Mack for a 1st, 3rd and 7th would be ideal but a 1st and 2nd isn’t bad either. Problem is the Bears don’t have a 2nd in 2019 thanks to the Anthony Miller trade a few months ago in the draft.
Imagine how dangerous the Packers could be if they acquired superstar DE Khalil Mack from Oakland
2015: 15.0 sacks
2016: 11.0 sacks
2017: 10.5 sacksGreen Bay has the draft capital (two 2019 1st rd picks) to pull it offpic.twitter.com/euBdSuMSpG
— IKE Packers (@IKE_Packers) August 7, 2018
So this leads to the other angle.
If the Bears don’t want to give up two 1st round picks as is the likely asking price, is there a player on their roster who might intrigue the Raiders in a package deal? Remember that Gruden is an offensive guy so it would be best to concentrate on that side of the ball.
Looking over who the Bears have, two names stand out as possibilities: Jordan Howard and Adam Shaheen. The Raiders are largely set on the offensive line and at wide receiver. The same can’t be said for running back and tight end. The former is leaning on an aging Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin while the latter doesn’t have any viable options outside of Jared Cook who’s 31-years old.
Losing Howard or Shaheen would be a tough blow, but what they’d get in return with Mack could turn their good defense into a great one. Matt Nagy is an offensive coach so the odds are he’d find a way to make due without whoever was ultimately dealt. Or Pace could simply pay up the two 1st rounders and keep them.
