The last time the Chicago Bears made a franchise-altering acquisition was the day Brian Urlacher was drafted in 2000. Everything changed when he arrived. After he left, it truly felt like the aura of greatness went with him. Since then the Bears had been searching for somebody to replace it. They found some good players like Akiem Hicks, Kyle Fuller, Tarik Cohen, and Eddie Jackson. Yet something was still missing.
They still didn't have star power.
That changed on the fateful day of September 1st, 2018 when GM Ryan Pace pulled off the biggest trade of his career. In it he sent four draft picks including two 1st rounders to the Oakland Raiders for pass rusher Khalil Mack. It was a trade nobody thought was possible just weeks before. Mack had been holding out from the team due to a contract dispute. However, the arrival of a new head coach in Jon Gruden changed the entire dynamic.
Unwilling to pay big money to a defensive player (something that followed Gruden from Tampa Bay), the coach gave the green light on seeking a trade. Oakland chose the Bears both because of their strong offer and the belief they'd get good draft position on the 1st round picks due to Chicago's recent history. A few months later the Bears were in the playoffs and Oakland was stuck with the 24th pick in 2019.
Now Mack, after an All-Pro season with 12.5 sacks, was ranked the 3rd best player in the league on the NFL Top 100.
Chicago Bears got a Hall of Famer for cheap
Here's the thing. It's not like the Bears traded for Mack when he was floundering in Oakland and just happened to unlock his potential. He was already a former Defensive Player of the Year. A man who should end up in the Hall of Fame by the time he walks away from the game years down the road. He's only 28-years old and already has 53 sacks. Chicago knew what they were getting and still somehow got him at a cheap price.
Two 1st round picks, a 3rd round pick, and a 6th round pick may sound like a lot for Mack. The only thing is that's not all the Bears got. One can't forget the 2nd round pick and conditional 5th they hauled in as well. The further one gets from that trade, the harder it becomes to see any other reality than the Bears absolutely pulling off a heist. They got the third-best player in professional football and two picks on top of it.
No doubt all of Chicago will be thanking Gruden when Mack puts on that gold jacket down the road.
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