The Oakland Raiders and star defensive end Khalil Mack have been in the midst of a staring contest all summer, as Mack has wanted a lucrative contract extension from the team while Oakland has been reluctant to give him one. However, instead of either side blinking, the Raiders decided to just ship Mack to another team.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Mack is on his way to Chicago, as the Bears have met Oakland’s asking price and will acquire the services of the dynamic pass rusher.
Sources to ESPN: Raiders and Bears have an agreement in place to trade Khalil Mack to Chicago. Still working through it, but Raiders now planning to send Mack to Chicago.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2018
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network chimed in with details about what Chicago had to give up to get the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. It was a steep asking price, but you can easily make the case that it’s worth it for a player of Mack’s caliber.
It’s actually 2 first-rounders plus for Mack. https://t.co/gOutZd2tOD
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018
As for what this deal means for Mack’s desire to get paid a substantial amount of money, Rapoport reported that he will be the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player by the time the days ends. The good news for Mack is we know exactly where that bar is at right now, as the Los Angeles Rams gave Aaron Donald a deal worth $135 million with $87 million in guaranteed money on Friday.
UPDATE: The deal is official, per Adam Schefter, and it includes more than just Mack and a pair of picks. In all, six picks are on the move in the trade, with four of them heading to Oakland.
Trade official, source tells ESPN:
Bears get: Khalil Mack, a 2020 second-round round pick and a conditional 2020 fifth-round pick.
Raiders get: 2019 first-round pick, 2020 first-round pick, 2020 third-round pick, 2019 sixth-round pick.
So Bears get back second-round pick, too
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2018
