Fallout From Bears-Raiders Khalil Mack Trade Officially Revealed After NFL Draft

When Jon Gruden returned to coach the Raiders in 2018, his first big-time move was to trade defensive superstar Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears. A batch of 2020 and '21 draft picks were a major part of the deal for the all-world outside linebacker.

Mack has since signed a six-year, $141 million extension with Chicago and has been a strong performer, but the Bears have notably not won a playoff game in his two seasons in town. On the Raiders' side, the conclusion of this year's NFL Draft officially closes out the Mack trade, as we know exactly what Gruden and GM Mike Mayock did with that haul of picks.

So, who won the trade?

This is honestly tough to decide. Mack is obviously the most elite player of the bunch by miles and miles. However, will it ultimately be worth it for the Bears if the team doesn't win a Super Bowl with him in town? That is a lot of money to spend on one player who is not a quarterback, after all. Adding Cole Kmet with a second-round pick may not be enough to get fans excited if the Bears continue to struggle.

The counter argument is asking whether the Raiders would be Super Bowl contenders with Mack in town. There is a ton of pressure on running back Josh Jacobs, cornerback Damon Arnette, and receiver Bryan Edwards to prove the Raiders made the right decision here.

A true grade for this deal will be easier to come by in a few years when Jacobs and Arnette have more experience in the league. If the Raiders use the money that would have been allocated to Mack to build a consistent contender, fans in Vegas will surely argue that they really won; the same is true for Bears fans if Mack helps lead the team to contention. For now, this one is still up in the air, but now that every last pick has been made, there's officially no turning back.