Well, Raiders fans, it happened. All-Pro defensive lineman and preseason holdout Khalil Mack has been dealt to the Chicago Bears for a pair of first round draft picks and, reportedly more. Mack, who is entering the final year of his current contract, has sat out all preseason looking for a new contract and appears to have gotten one with the Bears.
With the haul, the Raiders free up cap space into the future and secure a strong position heading into the 2019 and 2020 drafts. Of course most Raiders fans believe Mack is worth more than two potential swing-and-misses. Head coach Jon Gruden is about to feel the wrath of Raider Nation as he goes from sweetheart to Mr. Burns in less than 24 hours.
News of the deal leaked out early Saturday morning while most on the west coast slept. Millions of Raiders fans are still just waking up to the news and their reaction on social media has been as exciting as watching a Denver Broncos fan dive into The Black Hole.
Pathetic, disgraceful, embarrassing. #KhalilMack https://t.co/wMQvvzRK9D
— Previn Naidu 🇺🇸🇸🇬☃️🎄🎁 (@PrevDiesel) September 1, 2018
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me waking up and seeing raiders and khalil mack trending pic.twitter.com/Zcx8gqvbWU
— 🐜 (@anthonieyyy) September 1, 2018
Fuck Gruden and the rest of management. How the fuck do you trade Khalil Mack? All you had to do was pay him! Goddamnit…
— Steve F. (@TheAmazingScuba) September 1, 2018
If this is the case. Go fuck yourself Gruden. You took the job with two of the most promising players that franchise has had in years. Derek Carr, and Khalil Mack. We will never have a defensive talent like his for a long time. https://t.co/mnmEO3TwEh
— NRT (@Nic_Rozay32) September 1, 2018
Khalil Mack talked about being a raider for life but left because of a 3 million difference from what we offered, so fuck u piece of shit I hope u tear ur ACL Iin Chicago bitch.
— Nick Choza (@nick_chozatl75) September 1, 2018
The intensity with which their anger slowly rises is entertaining, especially when he was beloved before most Raiders fans went to bed last night and is now reviled. While some Raiders fans are letting it rip, some are actually showing reverence to Mack and the time he spent in the Silver & Black.
@52Mack_ congrats on getting paid and getting back to doing what you love. You deserve it. Best of luck in Chicago. Give em hell.
— Nick G (@ng5966) September 1, 2018
Best of luck to you bro stay blessed get the bag and go be a legend ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿 @52Mack_
— Breeze Sr. 🐍🏁⚜️ (@LeftFistHigh) September 1, 2018
The trade itself will be broken down for a long time to come, especially heading into a season in which the defense was already a question mark. Two years removed from a potential Super Bowl run, the Raiders have now traded away their best defensive player and an all-time great.
They also received the LARGEST trade haul for a defensive player in NFL history. If anything, this could actually benefit the Raiders more in the long term. Cap space, draft picks, and a new system. There’s no guarantee Mack would’ve fit well into this current system (he’s too good not to, of course) and the divide between Gruden and Mack may have reached irreparable in recent days.
The Bears were one of the top four potential landing spots for Mack early in the week, with Green Bay the frontrunner with two 2019 first round draft picks at their disposal. Somehow, Bears GM Ryan Pace pulled the rug out from under their rivals to the north and secured a player who will give Aaron Rodgers hell for the entire length of his new $176 million contract.
The news of a trade didn’t seem to sit well for Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who specifically structured his contract so Mack, Amari Cooper and Gabe Jackson could get paid when it was their turn.
No way
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) September 1, 2018
This is the sucky part of this business… Mornings like this, but we have a season to play and games to win!! #RaiderNation we feel your pain trust me but we need you next Monday night! 💀
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) September 1, 2018
It can be seen as a win-win for both franchises as this saga comes to an end. The Bears just built a Top 5 defense to go with their revamped offense, making them an instant contender if they can score any decent amount of points, and the Raiders save $23 million per year as they head to Las Vegas’s lack of a state income tax in 2020 to go along with their multiple first round draft picks the next few seasons.
This could really benefit the Raiders in the long term using addition by subtraction.
By the end of the day:
— The #Bears will have Khalil Mack, who will be the highest-paid defensive player in football.
— The #Raiders will have 2 first-round picks and more, plus $23M more per year to play with that would’ve gone to Mack.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018
For now, Raiders fans will have to take out their wrath on the nearest Chiefs fan.
