The Khalil Mack trade from the Oakland Raiders to the Chicago Bears could go down as one of the worst trades in NFL History. It is still early but the Bears are the clear winners of this trade. For now anyways.

Mack makes the Bears defense exponentially better. He is arguably the best defensive player in the game. A three down hybrid outside linebacker, defensive end who can rush the passer and stop the run. The Bears defense was already a defense on the rise. Mack makes them an elite unit.

The Bears are on the cusp of being a playoff contender and I like most people believe that this deal will put them over the hump and into the playoffs.

As for the Raiders, Jon Gruden didn’t want to pay Mack “elite” money. Mack views himself as the best defensive player in the league and therefore he should be paid as such.

The Raiders has already invested in quarterback Derek Carr and didn’t feel compelled to dish out another $100 million dollar contract.

Despite that, outside of wide receiver Amari Cooper, there is not a young player on the Raiders roster that would have commanded a big contract in the coming years. The combination of Carr’s contract and an overpaid offensive line scared Gruden away from paying Mack.

Three years from now Gruden might look like a genius for making this trade. For now, Bears GM Ryan Pace got the best of him and it’s not even close.