Raiders Ship Mack to Bears

In what will certainly go down as one of the darker days in Raiders history, reports indicate the team has agreed in principle to send holdout defensive end Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears in a shocking trade.

According to several media reports this morning, the Oakland Raiders have agreed to trade Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears for an undisclosed number of draft picks.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders were entertaining offers from several teams on Friday, but have since come to an agreement in principle to send him

Mack, arguably the best defensive player in the league, was taken with the fifth pick overall in the 2014 draft and was the first NFL defensive player to be named first-team All-Pro at two positions – outside linebacker and defensive end. By everyone’s estimation, a future Hall of Famer in the making.

Yet, despite his ability and past performance, the Oakland Raiders appear to be unable or unwilling to pay Mack after yesterday’s market-setting $185 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams Aaron Donald. New Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said in June he hadn’t spoken to Mack since taking the job, but said that he hosted Mack at his home during the summer. Still, for whatever reason, the team and their superstar defensive player never were able to get to a deal to keep Mack in the silver and black.

The Bears and their fan base are sure to feel good about the deal. Chicago drafted highly touted Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith eighth in this year’s draft and the addition of Mack changes the trajectory for the team on defense. The Bears struggled on defense in 2017 and now have the kind of player that instantly elevates a defensive unit.

Raider Nation is now left to pick up the pieces and the move is sure to sour an excited fanbase that has long suffered over the past 16 years since the first time Gruden coached in Oakland. Initial reaction to the trade is full of shock and anger.

We will update details of the trade as they become available here on the website and on our Silver and Black Today radio show, heard on CBS Sports Radio 1140-AM, on Sunday from 8-10AM. You can stream the show live on the Radio.com app. Call in and tell us what you think of the trade of Mack to the Bears tomorrow at 702-889-5978.

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By Scott Gulbransen

Scott Gulbransen, a jack-of-all-trades in sports journalism, juggles his roles as an editor, NFL , MLB , Formula 1 ... More about Scott Gulbransen