Chicago Bears: Anatomy of season-changing Khalil Mack trade

Last season the Chicago Bears made a monumental trade to acquire Khalil Mack. Here are some details on how it all came to fruition.

Going into the 2018 season many knew one thing for sure — the Chicago Bears had questions on offense but their defense was excellent. The unit was a top-ten defense in 2017 and experts expected another good season.

The Bears overhauled the offense and brought in offensive guru Matt Nagy as head coach, but if the team was to dig their way out of the NFC North basement the defense would have to lead the way.

Then, after the preseason ended and the teams around the league needed to cut down their roster, team executives made a trade that changed the landscape of the division and the Chicago Bears fortunes for the season.

The Bears acquired Khalil Mack, one of the NFL’s best defensive players. The trade came with a huge price tag — their 2019 and 2020 first-round picks, their 2020 third-round pick, and their 2019 sixth-round pick. They also had to give Mack a new contract and they ended up signing him to a six-year, $141 million contract extension with $90 million guaranteed.

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A year later that trade is still one of the most talked-about deals around the league. Bears executives are still in disbelief that the entire episode happened. Director of player personnel Josh Lucas spoke about it during a panel discussion at the Chicago Bears 100 Celebration (per WGN Radio).

The deal wasn’t made on impulse

Many people felt that this deal happened in a whirlwind couple of days. It didn’t. General manager Ryan Pace actually started doing his homework on Mack before training camp began. Mack threatened to not participate in training with the Oakland Raiders if they didn’t extend his contract.

The Bears kept talking about Mack without feeling they had a realistic shot at pulling off the trade. Still, they persisted. Pace kept in touch with the Raiders’ general manager, Reggie McKenzie and head coach Matt Nagy kept calling Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.

As time went on, the possibility of the Raiders actually trading Mack became more of a reality. Then, on Aug. 30, 2018, the day before teams had to submit their final cuts. The Bears were playing the Buffalo Bills and Lucas went to the Bears’ operation box. Usually, it is filled with team executives but on this night it was empty. Lucas felt something was up.

Something was up. The Raiders notified the Bears to have their best offer ready for the next day.

Bears were one of the finalists, but would the Raiders deal with them?

The Bears acted like they were in the race but, really, they still wondered if they could pull this off. There was a lot to consider. The price they had to pay was steep just from the trade. Add in the contract extension and this was a huge gamble.

There were a lot of people who needed to be kept in the loop. Pace did his homework and had other personnel to come up with a proper package. Nagy, having prepared for Mack twice a season in the AFC West, was on board. He knew what type of player Mack was. The important people had to be let in on the situation. Ted Phillips is the Bears’ CEO and the one to write the check. Additionally, ownership had to give the okay for all of it to get started.

Pace did a great job of keeping in contact with all parties involved. In the end, he convinced everyone this was a move that had to be made. The Bears made their offer, but would the Raiders accept it?

One of the teams the Bears competed against was their hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers. The Packers had two first round picks in this year’s draft and three in the first 44 picks. Experts felt they had an inside track.

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The Bears had an advantage, though. The Raiders underestimated how much of an impact Mack would have on the team. After four straight last-place finishes, the Raiders felt the Bears’ picks would be higher. Even with Mack, they didn’t expect Chicago to be better if they even did improve.

The Raiders sent word that they accepted the Bears’ offer. It wouldn’t go through, however, if they didn’t extend Mack. They had 24 hours to come up with an extension. Pace and company were already prepared, and the deal only took three to get done.

Now that they have him, what happens next?

The Bears shocked the world with first the trade and second the extension that made Mack the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. How much of an impact would he have, though, without any training camp or preseason? He only had a week to prepare for the season opener against those hated Packers.

As soon as Mack arrived he set a new tone. He was on his new teammates from his initial practice with the team. There was an aura now around the team.

That tone continued in Week 1. What did Mack do? He recorded a sack, a forced fumble, an interception and had a touchdown. One of the most memorable first games for a Chicago Bears player in the franchise’s storied history.

Being top-ten wasn’t enough. This defense had to be at the top. That’s exactly what happened. With Mack, this was the most dominant defense in the NFL. This is what Lucas said about the trade and Mack, again per WGN Radio:

"You know, after this year and a year down the road when the Raiders end up exercising the picks that they got from us, I’m sure the media will put up (the trade comparison), but you can’t ever measure that trade without being able to really establish a value for how much he makes every single guy on that defense better and you saw it right away. The confidence he helped instill in some of our young players and that’s going to continue to build as he’s a Bear and he’s here for longer. We like to use the term ‘multiplier,’ so you get him, you get his ability, you get his sack production, but he multiplies throughout the locker room and making guys better."

Coming into the 2019 season, Mack has a full offseason under his belt. He’s working as hard as ever and looks to lead his teammates to another magical season. After posting 12.5 sacks in 14 games last season (without any training camp) he wants to have an even better season, as remarkable as it is to imagine.

The Chicago Bears made a bold move to acquire an elite player in his prime. The move worked and should pay more dividends as his career in Chicago progresses.