Bears News: Raiders reportedly inquired about trading for Khalil Mack during offseason |
Widely regarded as one of the most lopsided trades in recent NFL history, the then-Oakland Raiders' decision to deal superstar pass rusher Khalil Mack, along with draft picks, to the Chicago Bears in return for draft picks in 2018 has been viewed as a steal for the Bears from the get-go. Mack held out of the entire Raiders training camp that year and was traded less than a week before the regular season began.
According to sports writer Vic Tafur, who covers the now-Las Vegas Raiders for The Athletic, the Raiders inquired about trading for Mack during the offseason. With the Bears facing salary cap issues earlier this year, the Raiders reportedly reached out about possibly trading for the six-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker, who was a Raider from 2014-17. Unsurprisingly, the Bears turned the Raiders down, as the franchise had no interest in signing the sack master, who signed a six-year, $141 million contract with the Bears in the wake of the 2018 trade. The Bears instead opted to release cornerback Kyle Fuller in order to free up cap space, while the Raiders inked free agent defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to a deal in an effort to boost their pass rush. Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock, the Raiders' head coach and general manager, respectively, have spoken publicly about their dismay over being essentially forced into trading away Mack in 2018. However, it still rather surprising to learn that the franchise would reach out to the Bears about trading for a player whose relationship with the Raiders deteriorated seemingly beyond repair toward the end of his tenure with the team. Needless to say, Mack is still sporting a Bears uniform and is expected to lead the way on the defensive side of the ball for the Bears this season and beyond.
