NFL Notes: Khalil Mack, Bears, Raiders

Khalil Mack

• According to Jason La Canfora, a “half-dozen” teams were negotiating to acquire Khalil Mack from the Raiders, but the trade came down to the Jets and Bears.
• La Canfora adds that the Jets were “aggressive” with their negotiations, but the Bears playing in the NFC could have factored into the Raiders’ decision.
• Manish Mehta reports that the Jets did not offer two first-round picks, but submitted “multiple offers” to the Raiders.

Bears

Bears GM Ryan Pace released the following statement regarding their blockbuster trade for Khalil Mack.

“We are excited to add a special playmaker like Khalil to our football team. He brings a ton on the field, but he really fits what we are building in our locker room, too. Elite defensive players in their prime are rare so when we knew we had a legit shot to acquire him, we did everything we thought necessary to get him. I’m confident the compensation to Oakland, including the return draft picks to us, and the contract extension for Khalil are fair to all parties. We are anxious to get Khalil to Chicago with his coaches and teammates.”

Raiders

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie said that everyone in the organization wanted DE Khalil Mack to remain in Oakland and they presented him an offer.

“We wanted, all of us [Jon] Gruden, myself, everybody in the organization wanted Khalil to be a Raider. That’s not an issue at all,” McKenzie said, per Paul Guiterrez. “We presented him with an offer and we got that counter back and talked about it with him…and it just, what they were demanding, it just wasn’t going to work at that time…it didn’t work out in the end…we weren’t close. We presented prior to the start of the league year…Khalil got a great deal.”

According to McKenzie, Aaron Donald‘s new contract wasn’t a focus for their decision to trade Mack.

“We were worried about just trying to do a deal with Khalil,” McKenzie, per Guiterrez. “What he was willing to take. It wasn’t about Aaron Donald. It was about Khalil Mack.”

McKenzie mentioned that “more than half the league” called the Raiders to inquire about a trade for Mack but the Bears’ package was the best, per Guiterrez.

Regarding how the locker room will take this move, McKenzie said: “They’re going to miss Khalil. I’m going to miss Khalil. We’re all going to miss Khalil. Let’s make that point now. … But we’re going to find a way to continue to play good football, and that’s just the way it goes.“