Report: Raiders tried to get Khalil Mack back from Bears

The Las Vegas Raiders were interested in trading for Khalil Mack with the Chicago Bears.

There is no denying that the Las Vegas Raiders made a GOB Bluth-level huge mistake in trading pass-rusher extraordinaire Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears ahead of the 2018 NFL season.

Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports then-incoming Raiders head coach Jon Gruden cried for three days after having to reluctantly trade his best player to Chicago. Mack felt disrespected by the Raiders’ low-ball offer to extend him ahead of his fifth season out of Buffalo. He went on to sign a six-year deal with the Bears. Tafur also mentioned the Bears wanted to trade for him this spring…

The Raiders may have wanted a Return of the Mack, but had to settle for signing Yannick Ngakoue.

Las Vegas Raiders wanted to trade for Khalil Mack ahead of NFL free agency

While the Raiders have many great players on their roster, rushing the passer has understandably been their biggest issue since dealing Mack to the Bears. Though Maxx Crosby has been good, Clelin Ferrell was a big reach at No. 4 coming out of Clemson. All the while, the Silver and Black have not sniffed the playoffs since dealing Mack to Chicago. The Bears have made it in twice.

Though this looks incredibly desperate by the Raiders, Gruden was between a rock and a hard place. What this really comes down to is Raiders owner Mark Davis did not have enough available cash to put it in escrow to be able to sign a star player of Mack’s caliber long-term. While moving to Las Vegas may help the Raiders’ cash-flow issues, this is a bad look for ownership, 100 percent.

Asking about Mack ahead of free agency shows the Raiders will do anything to fix their pass-rush.