The NFL was buzzing this past weekend with the news of the Khalil Mack trade. In an unprecedented move, the Oakland Raiders traded former Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears for a significant draft package. The question remains, who won this trade? Football Absurdity had a Chicago Bears fan (Waleed Ismail) and Oakland Raiders fan (Evan Hoovler) weigh the pros and cons of the Khalil Mack trade.
How do you think the Khalil Mack trade makes your team better?
Bears Fan:
Going into the 2017 NFL Draft, most experts felt the biggest weakness on the Chicago Bears was their lack of depth at outside linebacker. The Khalil Mack trade instantly turns the biggest weakness on the Chicago Bears into a position of strength. The plugged in a former defensive player of the year and three-time Pro-Bowler onto the most important part of their defense. The Bears just put themselves into the conversation of the best defense in the NFL.
Raiders Fan:
Losing the best player on the Raiders definitely makes them better, so great, our defense is a box of Kleenex, I’m sooooooo happy about this extremely dumb development. Now we get a bunch of draft picks that Gruden and Marc “Flowbee” Davis will inevitably screw up when the team isn’t even in Oakland anymore. I get to watch an entire season of the Raiders all-time worst defense screwing up any chance for Carr and whomever-the-hell-Gruden-decides-to-put-on-offense to ever keep up with the score.
What do you think of the cost/return of the Khalil Mack trade?
Bears Fan:
While two first round picks is a steep price, I think this is a move the Chicago Bears had to make. I can’t remember a time in the NFL where a defensive player of that caliber was available in the prime of his career. When you draft someone in the first round, you are taking a chance that you will win the lottery. But like the lottery, you are going to miss a lot more than you hit. So why play the lottery, when you can just pick up a bunch of cash someone left lying on the floor. I’m saying Khalil Mack is found money.
Raiders Fan:
How do you think the Khalil Mack trade affects your team in the short term?
Bears Fan:
I think the fact that the Bears were willing to pay Oakland’s asking price means that they think they are ready to compete for a playoff spot this year. Clearly, they felt that they had the core players they needed on their roster and decided to put the final piece they needed in place.
Raiders Fan:
How do you think the Khalil Mack trade affects your team in the long term?
Bears Fan:
I think long-term, the Bears are going to come out ahead. They are taking advantage of having a quarterback on their rookie deal to invest in their skill positions. This is a team that should be poised to compete for a Super Bowl within the next two years.
Raiders Fan:
Who won the Khalil Mack trade?
Bears Fan:
I think the Bears won this trade, no questions asked. They are adding one of the best defenders in football to an already strong defense. With the addition of Khalil Mack, there are no visible holes on the defensive side of the ball.
Raiders Fan:
Al Davis’ cackling ghost, feeling the joy of realizing he actually wasn’t the worst person to run a team in the history of football. I hate him, I hate his spawn, I hate Gruden whose name I just realized rhymes with “boo him.”
