Around the time the Oakland Raiders were on the clock for the second time in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy were surely watching Khalil Mack highlights on repeat in their new draft room.
The Chicago Bears traded their first-round selection this year, along with next year’s first-round pick, for the All-Pro edge rusher. And there are no regrets in the Bears organization.
Last season, Mack was a pillar of one of the NFL’s best defenses. In 14 games, Mack had 12.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, one interception and one defensive touchdown.
That first-round pick that the Bears ended up trading to the Raiders was No. 24, which Oakland used on Alabama running back Josh Jacobs.
Raiders coach John Gruden was criticized throughout the 2018 season for trading Mack, one of the league’s best defensive players, in his prime.
While Gruden was able to accrue three first-round picks in this year’s draft — he also dealt Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys for pick No. 27 — his selections will be compared to the talent he let get away, including Mack.
In a league where pass rusher trumps running back in terms of impact, the Bears got the better end of that deal.
