Looking back at the 2018 trade for Khalil Mack, that netted Chicago a great pass rusher and one of the top tight ends in the NFL.
One of the biggest trades in recent history for the Chicago Bears was the blockbuster swing for star outside linebacker Khalil Mack back in 2018, which involved multiple first-round picks.
The move came just before the beginning of the 2018 season, as the Bears looked to make the playoffs for the first time in six years, coming off a 5-12 season. Chicago quickly turned things around following the trade, making the playoffs with a 12-4 record in 2018.
Mack ultimately lasted four years with the Bears before heading to the Los Angeles Chargers, but that trade bore more fruit than initially expected, as the package of picks involved ended up including Cole Kmet, who was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
It’s been five years since the Bears added Kmet in the draft, and with the number of moving pieces, let’s revisit the trade and see how both sides fared.
Original Khalil Mack trade details
- Bears receive: OLB Khalil Mack, 2020 second-round pick, 2020 conditional fifth-round pick
- Raiders receive: 2019 first-round pick, 2019 sixth-round pick, 2020 first-round pick, 2020 third-round pick
Because this trade was completed in September 2018, the actual pick numbers were unknown at the time an that was only extended further by including picks in 2019 and 2020.
Final trade details for Khalil Mack
- Bears receive: OLB Khalil Mack, 2020 second-round pick (No. 43), 2020 seventh-round pick (No. 226)
- Raiders receive: 2019 first-round pick (No. 24), 2019 sixth-round pick (No. 196), 2020 first-round pick (19 overall), 2020 third-round pick (No. 81)
Final results of the Khalil Mack trade
- Bears receive: Khalil Mack, Cole Kmet, Arlington Hambright
- Raiders receive: Josh Jacobs, Damon Arnette, Bryan Edwards
How did Khalil Mack perform for the Bears?
The biggest piece in the trade was evidently Khalil Mack, who had 12.5 sacks in his first season with the Bears, ultimately finishing with 36 sacks in four years. Chicago got value for Mack at the end as well, flipping him to the Chargers for a second-round pick.
Mack was pretty great for the Bears, making three Pro Bowls in four seasons and being named first-team All-Pro once and second-team All-Pro another. He accumulated 26 sacks in 52 starts along with two interceptions (one returned for a TD) and 14 forced fumbles.
Mack went on to have three more Pro Bowl seasons for the Los Angeles Chargers past the age of 30. He is returning for his 12th NFL season in 2025.
What did the Bears do with the picks from the Khalil Mack trade?
The conditional fifth-round pick was downgraded to a seventh-round selection, so Chicago lost some value. Arlington Hambright was the pick and spent one season on the active roster and one season on the practice squad.
But there was a solid addition to the Beats’ roster with the other pick Chicago got back in the deal.
How had Cole Kmet performed since joining the Bears?
It’s been five years since Chicago took Cole Kmet in the second round at pick 43. He’s started 76 games since joining the teams and hasn’t missed any of the 84 regular season games on the docket.
Kmet has 258 catches for 2592 yards and 19 touchdowns and led the Bears in receiving in 2022.
While Kmet hasn’t emerged as an elite tight end, he’s been reliable, going for over 450 yards in four consecutive seasons, while catching 17 touchdown passes over the past three years.
Kmet still has room to grow, but hasn’t been in the best environment for success throughout his career. He didn’t have the best 2024 season, but he is an above-average tight end who can catch and block.
What did the Raiders do with the picks from the Khalil Mack trade?
On the Raiders’ side, they spent the 2019 first-round pick on Josh Jacobs, taking him at No. 24 overall. The 2020 first-round pick was spent on cornerback Damon Arnette at No. 19 overall.
The Raiders ultimately traded the 2019 sixth-round pick in a trade to get another fifth-rounder, while taking Bryan Edwards with the third-round pick in 2020.
On the Raiders’ side, they did get great pick value with two first-round picks, but the return on those assets hasn’t been great. Jacobs had an elite 2022 season, but was a first-round pick at running back and didn’t get a second contract from the team, instead going to the Green Bay Packers in free agency.
Arnette was one of the biggest first-round misses in recent history, with off-the-field issues derailing his career. Edwards lasted two seasons in Las Vegas before being traded to the Falcons for a fifth-round pick. He spent one more year in the NFL and hasn’t played in a game since.
Who won the Khalil Mack trade to the Bears?
With the amount of value the Bears got, this is a pretty clear win for them.
Winner: Bears