A Chicago Bears Khalil Mack trade? Really? Look, trade speculation is fun. Part of what makes football and professional sports in general so thrilling is the fortunes of a team can often turn on one bold decision. Nowhere is this high-stakes poker game more evident than in the front offices. A big trade involving any star player can either make a break a franchise. The Bears found this out when they dealt for Jay Cutler back in 2009.
So before even talking about the idea itself, it’s important to ask the question. Why would they go for this? Sure, this looks like just another Cutler situation. Give away the farm for a chance to win now. It almost worked back then. The Bears reached the NFC championship with Cutler in 2010. Ultimately it was a failure. Why should they believe it can be different with Mack?
Namely because the team situations are completely different. Nine years ago, the Bears were a mostly veteran group. They had their star core in place and it was felt a quarterback was needed to get them back into the Super Bowl picture before that core began to fade. Olin Kreutz was 32. Brian Urlacher was 29. Lance Briggs was 29. Charles Tillman was 28. The Cutler trade was meant to be a rescue operation while they had some time left.
This is different.
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A Bears Khalil Mack trade would be a final-piece-to-puzzle situation
This current Bears team is nothing like that bunch back then. It’s a group with loads of upside but more importantly: youth. Most of the best players on the team including Jordan Howard, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Tarik Cohen, Cody Whitehair and Kyle Fuller are 27-years old or younger. This group has a chance to last for a solid period of time, but it’s also one that feels incomplete.
Outside of Leonard Floyd, their pass rush situation not ideal. Sam Acho, Aaron Lynch, Isaiah Irving, and Kylie Fitts is what they have. None of them could be called a legitimate starter. Certainly not an equal of Floyd. So imagine how quickly things would change if Mack were to suddenly arrive. He, Floyd and Hicks rushing the passer? That’s straight nightmare fuel.
Now, of course, most will dismiss the idea. There’s no way in hell the Oakland Raiders would trade Mack. First of all, that sort of argument has been used many times right before big names were traded in the past. Second, the warning signs are growing that there’s a serious disconnect between the All-Pro and his new head coach.
Interesting fact of day: Jon Gruden and Oakland DE Khalil Mack have not spoken once since the Raiders hired their new head coach in January. No contact between two men who should be vital this season for the Raiders.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2018
Bad communication is one thing but no communication?
A trade remains unlikely but this situation opens the door a bit wider. If a team would be willing to get aggressive enough in their pursuit, they may just convince the Raiders to sell. So let’s play the what-if game. If Oakland were to make Mack available, what would their price be? Needless to say, it would be high. Pass rushers are the second-most valuable resource in the NFL behind quarterbacks. Great ones never come cheap.
Too early to be thinking Khalil Mack trade. Raiders would want way more than a 1st round pick. Chiefs got a 1st round pick & 2 3rd round picks from the Vikings for Jared Allen a decade ago. https://t.co/3EHE6Cwof6
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) July 26, 2018
Jared Allen was also an All-Pro in Kansas City when they traded him to Minnesota. Keep in mind though, this was a decade ago. Back then quarterback fever wasn’t quite at its peak levels that it is today. Put simply the ballpark of a Mack trade will hover around two 1st round picks. Yes, that’s even with his current contract situation (he’ll be a free agent in 2019).
That’s how incredible Mack is. He’s a generational talent good for at least 10 sacks a year who’s in his prime and has never missed a game in his career. He can change the complexion of a game the moment he steps on the field. If a team wants somebody like that on their roster, they must be one of two things. Either very lucky or very willing to pay a high price.
GM Ryan Pace has shown in the past he doesn’t fear the bold move. What he hasn’t done yet is make one involving a veteran player. If he feels this Bears team is close to contention, this might be the perfect time to break that streak. He’s got his quarterback and new offense in place. Mack could turn that defense into the best in the NFL.
