Tag: Khalil Mack trade

Report: Multiple teams interested in trading for Chargers’ Khalil Mack

Khalil Mack is coming off a 17-sack season.

On a Sunday morning edition of SportsCenter, Jeremy Fowler reported that multiple teams have interest in Chargers edge defender Khalil Mack as the calendar turns to March.

In a trade for Mack, the Chargers would save roughly $23 million on the salary cap. That move alone would put them around $2 million over the new $255.4M cap figure.

Regarding value in return, it isn’t easy to ascertain exactly what Mack’s market is. Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger had a trade evaluation last week of a 2025 fourth-round pick for the Chargers in return.

One question is how much leverage Joe Hortiz would have in these discussions. Mack has a high cap hit due to 2023’s max restructure and other teams are likely aware of the Chargers’ cap situation. While Mack is coming off of a 17-sack season, as Fowler mentioned, will other teams be convinced that they’re getting that version of the star pass rusher as opposed to his 2022 or 2021 outputs? Those factors make getting high draft compensation back for Mack seemingly tricky.

He is also 33 and on an expiring contract. Perhaps talk of an extension could be surfaced with any team absorbing his 2023 cap number to reduce the strain. But that’s more theoretical than not, as Mack can still choose to enter free agency next year, with the cap presumably further increasing in 2025.

Another thing to consider for the Chargers is the status of the position room. Would the Chargers be OK with an oft-injured Joey Bosa leading the way next to Tuli Tuipulotu? Or would they pursue a potential nuclear option of trading/cutting both star pass rushers? How much Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh want to balance 2024 and 2025 resources and capital plays into that discussion.

The Chargers’ real choices are to cut Mack to save money, trade him at a somewhat diminished value due to the cap hit and age concerns, or keep him for 2024. If Mack is willing to stay around, he seems to be the most productive member of the restructured quartet of players outside Keenan Allen.

Without the right deal that includes a lower day two or higher day three draft pick for 2024, keeping Mack may make the most sense in the transition to the Harbaugh era. The Chargers may not have the leverage they’d theoretically want in a trade for either of their star pass rushers due to the reasons previously mentioned.

Pro Football Focus proposes trade idea for Chargers’ Khalil Mack

One big name who may be leaving the Chargers this offseason is edge defender Khalil Mack.

One big name who could be leaving the Chargers this offseason is edge defender Khalil Mack.

The Bolts are projected to be $45 million over the 2024 salary cap, which is why Mack could be let go to clear up space. If they were to trade him, a potential landing spot for him would be the Lions.

Pro Football Focus’ Brad Speilberger proposed the trade idea of Mack to Detroit in which Los Angeles would net a 2025 fourth-round pick and dump his 2024 salary.

The challenge for Los Angeles will be convincing teams they are trading for the 2023 version of Mack and not what is more likely a player whose median expectation should fall somewhere between his past two seasons.

The 33-year-old veteran is coming off one of his most dominant seasons with a career-high 17 sacks. Additionally, his resume is packed with accolades: former Defensive Player of the Year, a five-time All-Pro and an eight-time Pro Bowler.

Though Mack’s 2023 campaign with the Chargers is an enticing cause to make a trade for him, his 2024 salary will be expensive. Nevertheless, Detroit has a valid reason for wanting a player like Mack on their roster. 

The Lions’ front office has done a great job of building a winning team with youthful talent. Detroit was one game away from the Super Bowl and they may be looking for a veteran like Mack to help them get over the hump. 

As for the Bolts, Joey Bosa is still under contract. He could also be dealt to clear up some space, leaving Tuli Tuipulotu as the only edge defender in the room. If so, the Chargers could sign a cheap veteran and draft one.

Khalil Mack back in AFC West as Bears working to trade All Pro EDGE to Chargers

Return of the Mack: Former Raiders All Pro Khalil Mack being traded to Chargers

The AFC West just keeps getting stronger around the Raiders. Just a day after the Broncos made a blockbuster traded to acquire Russell Wilson from the Seahawks, the Bears and Chargers are finalizing a deal that would bring Khalil Mack to Los Angeles.

As Ian Rapoport noted, the deal has the Chargers sending a second round pick a sixth round pick in the 2023 draft. A steal for what the three-time All Pro brings to the table.

This would have Mack back in the AFC West where he will face the team that drafted him only to trade him away rather than give him an extension after four seasons.

Mack pairs up with Joey Bosa, instantly giving the Chargers the best pass rushing duo in the division and arguably the best in the league.

The 31-year-old Mack has four years left on his current deal with the fourth year being a voidable year.

Don’t forget Reggie McKenzie’s role in the Khalil Mack trade

Don’t forget Reggie McKenzie’s role in the Khalil Mack trade

Just as the Raiders had nearly put the Khalil Mack trade behind them, the deal that shook the NFL in 2018 returned like a bad habit.

A recent report from The Athletic brought the subject back to center stage. Word is, the Raiders tried to reacquire Mack via trade just before this year’s free-agent period began.

Coach Jon Gruden has caught a lot of grief from NFL observers for the original deal, which torpedoed his first season back with the Raiders. He likely would’ve been criticized for bringing Mack back, too. Some might have called it an admission of wrongdoing.

It’s not as though the Raiders received nothing for Mack, however. Running back Josh Jacobs headlines the trade on Las Vegas’ end. But even if you love the deal, the Raiders were essentially forced to trade Mack, a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year in his prime, just before the regular season began.

And whose fault was that? Looking back, the clear answer is former Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie. According to a report by The Athletic’s Vic Tafur (the same report that unfortunately reintroduced this topic), Mack was already upset with McKenzie’s actions as GM well before Gruden arrived in 2018.

“Mack clearly was frustrated that the Raiders decided to extend quarterback Derek Carr and guard Gabe Jackson’s contracts — both fellow 2014 draft picks — before taking care of him. And they spent their 2018 budget on other players, leaving them enough cap space to only afford the $13.8 million that Mack was due to make on his fifth-year option.

“From that point on, (Mack) would not talk to anyone in our organization,” owner Mark Davis told ESPN in November 2018. “Not (general manager) Reggie (McKenzie), not Jon, not anybody. … Everybody thinks that Jon’s the one who wanted to get rid of him. Jon wanted him badly.”

Carr became the highest-paid player in the NFL when he signed his deal in 2017. He played well enough in 2016 to earn a hefty salary, that was clear. One week after Carr signed, former Raiders guard Gabe Jackson inked his own enormous 5-year contract.

Jackson had played extremely well, too. Put in isolation, those deals aren’t terrible.

But that McKenzie didn’t somehow, someway make sure he had enough cap room to give Mack his own large contract was an incredible blunder. If McKenzie had discussed his strategy (assuming he had one) with Mack, perhaps it would have worked. Whatever their level of communication was, it wasn’t good enough for the Raiders. Even during Mack’s holdout, McKenzie was nonchalant. And I think Mack was totally justified in standing his ground and knowing his worth.

McKenzie was a victim of his own success in the 2014 NFL Draft, to an extent. But looking at his three picks in question here, it’s clear which two are the top players. The Jackson deal was a head-scratcher, for that reason. Maybe McKenzie had a strategy to keep all three, but again, if he did, it didn’t work.

This doesn’t absolve Gruden, either. He was running the show when the Raiders were forced to deal. There’s probably more he could have done to get Mack on board. Though it’s hard to say what, other than less free agent spending in 2018, as Tafur mentioned.

Given the enormous impact that Mack’s departure had on Gruden’s first season, I’m sure he’d do more if he had another chance.

But it’s likely nothing would have stopped what McKenzie had already set in motion.

When McKenzie first arrived with the Raiders, taking over GM duties for the late Al Davis, he talked a big game. In many ways, he backed it up. As he slashed payroll to start his tenure — preparing for a massive team rebuild — McKenzie talked about “out of whack” contracts. And to be fair, many of the last deals made by Davis were just that.

But in the end, McKenzie’s judgment about how much to pay whom, not to mention when to pay them, was seriously out of whack in its own right.

Thank goodness Gruden and the Raiders have Jacobs. Cornerback Damon Arnette and wide receiver Bryan Edwards are part of the Mack trade, too. Plus, Las Vegas signed DE Yannick Ngakoue after failing to reacquire Mack. He and DE Maxx Crosby could form a potent pass rush in 2021.

So this can still be the year the Raiders finally forget about Mack. Pass rush is the only remedy. Of course, Mack and the Bears visit Allegiant Stadium Week 5. Ideally for the Raiders, this trade is an afterthought by then and rarely, if ever, brought up again.

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POLL: Would you take Khalil Mack or Josh Jacobs/Damon Arnette

Now that the Raiders have used both of the Bears’ 1st-round picks, it’s time to discuss who won the Khalil Mack trade.

The Chicago Bears were once again without a first-round pick in this year’s 2020 NFL Draft following the Khalil Mack trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Not that any Bears fan regrets the trade.

But now that the Raiders have used both of Chicago’s first-round selections over the last two years, it’s time to discuss who won the Khalil Mack trade.

Here’s what we’re looking at:

  • The Bears got Mack and a second-round pick in 2020.
  • The Raiders got running back Josh Jacobs, cornerback Damon Arnette and a third-round pick in 2020.

It’s still early, but all signs are pointing that Jacobs is a great pick for the Raiders. Jacobs had an impressive rookie season, where he had 242 carries for 1,150 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns. He added 20 receptions for 166 yards.

It’s certainly too early to grade the Arnette selection, but the Raiders certainly jumped the gun in taking him No. 19 overall — especially when many had him pegged as a second-rounder. Arnette is a versatile cornerback with great instincts, but he’s certainly no Jeff Okudah.

Meanwhile, the Bears acquired a generational talent with Mack, who in just two seasons has already had a significant impact on this franchise. Mack is a first-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler in his short stint in Chicago. He remains one of the most explosive defensive players in the NFL, and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

So, I don’t know about you, but I’d certainly say that the Bears won the Khalil Mack trade.

What say you, Bears fans? Would you rather have the duo of Jacobs and Arnette or stick with Mack?

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2020 NFL Draft: Raiders select OSU CB Damon Arnette with Bears’ first-round pick

The Raiders drafted Ohio State CB Damon Arnette with the 19th overall pick, which was Chicago’s original selection.

For the second straight year, Chicago Bears fans have watched the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft wanting nothing more than to be a little more excited because their team had a selection.

The Bears traded two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack in 2018. Not that anyone regrets that trade. They shouldn’t. When you have the opportunity to add a generational talent to your roster, you take it.

The Raiders used the first of those first-rounders to take running back Josh Jacobs in 2019, which ended up being a solid pick.

As for that second first-round selection, with the 19th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Raiders selected Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette.

It was one of the few shocks in this first round thus far as many had Arnette pegged as a second-round selection. Arnette was a name that had even been linked to the Bears in several mock drafts around picks 43 and 50.

Arnette is an instinctive, versatile cornerback whose physicality helps in run support, and he succeeds in press coverage. But was he worthy of a first-round selection? Was he worth half of Khalil Mack?

Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said about Arnette in his evaluation:

Inside/outside cornerback with NFL size and strength but a lack of fluidity and burst that might make him best-suited as a zone corner. Arnette will be at a disadvantage against vertical jackrabbits and will struggle to stay connected to NFL routes in man. However, he plays with good awareness in space and has the physicality in run support that zone defenses look for. His potential and success could be directly tied to what a team asks of him, which makes his evaluation and grade more of a sliding scale depending upon scheme fit.

While the Bears are certainly in need of help in the secondary, something tells me general manager Ryan Pace still doesn’t regret trading two first-rounders for Mack.

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2020 NFL Draft: Bears select OLB Khalil Mack with 19th overall pick

The Bears are without a 1st-round pick for the 2nd straight year after trading two 1st rounders to the Raiders for Khalil Mack in 2018.

With the 19th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears have selected Buffalo outside linebacker Khalil Mack.

And something tells us this guy is going to be a stud.

The Bears are without a first-round pick for the second straight year after trading a pair of first rounders to the Las Vegas Raiders for Mack in 2018. But you can’t say that Mack hasn’t been worth the draft capital or the $141 million contract.

“Obviously getting Mack was the priority,” general manager Ryan Pace said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “But getting that two back was really important for us. Having two two’s, I keep on going back to it, that’s big.”

Not to mention, Pace’s first-round selections have been suspect, for the most part. So when there’s a chance to grab a generational talent, it’s no wonder he didn’t hesitate to go after Mack — even if it did cost two first-rounders, among others.

Mack’s impact on the Bears have been immeasurable in just two seasons. In 2018, Mack exploded onto the scene in his first start. Throughout the season he continued to prove that he’s one of the best players in the NFL. He tallied 47 tackles, 12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, four passes defensed and one interception in 14 games.

He followed that up with 47 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and four passes defensed in 16 games in 2019. While Mack’s production saw a dip last season, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. And it certainly doesn’t negate the impact that he’s had in Chicago.

The Bears brought in former All-Pro Robert Quinn to line up opposite him off the edge, and the pair are expected to wreak havoc — along with the rest of the defensive front seven — in 2020 and beyond.

But when all is said and done, the Bears still won the Khalil Mack trade. And Mack was absolutely worth two first-rounders.

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