NFL Trade Rumors: Jets Offered Raiders Top Draft Picks For Khalil Mack Before Deal With Bears

When the New York Jets visit the Chicago Bears Sunday afternoon, they’ll be facing a player that they tried to trade for a couple of months ago. Before Chicago acquired Khalil Mack from the Oakland Raiders, the Jets reportedly made a competitive offer for the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

According to The New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta, the Jets offered a 2019 first-round draft pick and a 2020 second-rounder for Mack as the center of a proposed trade package. The Bears eventually parted with a 2019 and 2020 first-rounder, a 2020 third-round selection and a 2019 sixth-round pick for Mack and Oakland’s 2020 second-rounder. The Bears also received a conditional 2020 fifth-round pick.

New York might have upped their offer if given the chance, but Oakland didn’t ask the Jets for more once the Bears put together the package that got the trade done. Mehta reports that the Raiders likely preferred to trade Mack to Chicago so he would no longer be in the conference.

It was only a few months prior that New York dealt several draft picks. The Jets gave the Indianapolis Colts the No.6, No.37 and No.49 overall picks in the 2018 NFL draft, as well as 2019 second-rounder, in order to acquire the No.3 overall selection. New York used that pick to take Sam Darnold.

The Jets aren’t the only other team that made a strong push to acquire Mack. The Los Angeles Rams offered Oakland first-round and third-round picks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Mack has been one of the NFL’s best defensive players in 2018. He recorded a strip-sack in each of his first four games, though he hasn’t gotten to the quarterback in the last two weeks while dealing with an ankle injury. The Bears are 12th in total defense and 11th in points allowed.

Tied for 19th in total defense and ranking 17th in points allowed, the Jets certainly could’ve used Mack this season. Only nine teams have fewer sacks than New York. The Jets ranked 28th last year with 28 sacks.

The Bears are 7.5-point favorites at home in Week 8 against the Jets, according to OddsShark. Chicago is tied for last place in the NFC North at 3-3, but they only trail the first-place Minnesota Vikings by one game. New York is 3-4 and two games behind the New England Patriots.