Big Trade Now Not Such a Big Deal

Analysis: The Raiders and Bears once hooked up in a trade labeled a "landmark," but in the end it carried little significance beyond a few playoff berths.

When the Bears last faced the Raiders, it was Justin Fields' first official time as starting quarterback and they won 20-9 in 2021.

The more intriguing aspect of it was Khalil Mack's second game against his old team, and he wreaked havoc on that day, although with less devastation than with the Chargers against the silver and black. He made six sacks in that Oct. 1 game with L.A.

When the Bears were winning the 2018 NFC North title and making the playoffs two out of three seasons, it was safe to say they got the better of what was labeled as a landmark trade with the Raiders. 

Vic Fangio had built one of the best defenses in the league and Mack put them over the top. They led the league in scoring defense.

However, Fangio actually proved the most valuable part of the Bears defense as they were never the same after he left to coach Denver. 

Mack suffered nagging injuries and the defensive line started to deteriorate quickly, especially after line coach Jay Rodgers left for the Chargers.

So the Raiders were left to reap the benefits of what the Bears sent them in a trade Sports Illustrated saw as establishing a real precedent, because it involved multiple draft picks for a player—the first time this had occurred in nearly a decade.

It hasn't worked out too well for the Raiders. 

This deal was all part of the failed Jon Gruden era. Later it was reported by The Athletic's Vic Tafur that the former Raiders coach actually tried to get Mack back from the Bears in a deal, a sure sign Chicago had won the trade.

Did they, though?

Years Blur the Lines

It's not as clear cut of a victory as before because the Bears traded Mack for a second-round pick after injuries and a drop in his sack total, but mainly because he was eating up needed salary cap space.

The Bears also got a 2020 second-round pick in the deal and drafted Cole Kmet with it.  

In return, the Raiders received a first-rounder they used in 2019 to draft running back Josh Jacobs and the Bears will face him Sunday at Soldier Field.

The Raiders got another first-round pick, a third-rounder and sixth-rouder. 

They traded away the sixth-rounder. With the third-rounder, they drafted Bryan Edwards, a receiver who had 16 catches in three years and was dealt to Atlanta.

The other first-round pick was Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette in 2020. He played 13 games with seven starts and isn't in the league anymore—a classic draft bust.

So if not for Jacobs, this would have ranked among the greatest fleecings of all time.

Jacobs lets the Raiders save face, as he led the NFL in rushing last year with 1,653 yards, his third year over 1,000 yards. He has a healthy 4.3-yard average for his career and 5,052 yards overall. He helped Las Vegas earn one playoff berth.

This year, though, after a holdout ending with the conclusion of preseason and a new contract, Jacobs is averaging only 2.9 yards per carry. 

Besides that, the Raiders went 6-11 in the year Jacobs led the league in rushing yards. They probably could have done that well with a back who gained 1,000 yards or less. 

The Raiders used a first-round draft pick on a running back who doesn't appear to be a special player, although he's obviously a good one. 

Beyond that, running backs are cheap commodities these days as most teams prefer to spend their money on QBs, receivers and even blockers due to the way the game has changed toward passing.

Jacobs could go on and finish his career by leading the Raiders to more playoff games, like in 2021, or a rushing title or two.

It's still safe to believe the Bears got the better of the deal, especially with Kmet leading them in receptions last year, receiving a new contract this year and improving his all-around game each season. When they dealt away Mack for a second-rounder, they used the pick for safety Jaquan Brisker.

Ultimately it all made little difference. The Bears took Mack from that original fantastic deal and never really benefited to a great extent because they didn't have a quarterback who could win. All they got was a double-doink and all the Raiders got was an individual rushing title and one exciting late season playoff run.

Bears Could Use Another Raiders Edge

Sports Illustrated can still label it a landmark deal because if signified the start of teams giving up multiple draft picks for players and this did happen to some extent, although there's every reason to think this would have occurred eventually as desperate teams always need help. The Bears had done it themselves nine years earlier when they traded for Jay Cutler.

So ultimately, the Khalil Mack trade to the Bears was much to do about very little beyond an exciting Bears season that ended on a double-doink. 

Neither team won a playoff game as a result of this trade.

The Bears are back to lacking a pass rush of any kind. They still need an edge rusher. 

However, the Raiders do have this defensive end who is a total terror. Mad Maxx Crosby.  Of course, it's unlikely the Raiders would ever consider something like trading away an effective edge rusher again.

Then again, no one could have ever believed they would trade away Mack.

Maybe they could take another swing at it all. Ryan Poles, are you listening?

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