Bears make splash with trade for Mack
Khalil Mack and the Bears agreed to a six-year, $141 million contract extension that guarantees $90 million. That makes him the highest-paid defensive player in league history.
The Chicago Bears spent the offseason loading up to end a string of losing seasons. They just made their biggest move.
The Bears acquired star pass rusher Khalil Mack from the Raiders in a massive trade that sends two first-round draft picks to Oakland.
Mack held out for the entire offseason and preseason, seeking a new, long-term contract rather than play under the final year of his rookie deal that would have earned him $13.8 million. Raiders coach Jon Gruden, in his biggest move since returning to the sideline from the broadcast booth, accommodated Mack on Saturday.
Oakland will get firstround selections in 2019 and 2020, a sixth-rounder next year and a third-rounder in 2020. Oakland also included its second-round selection in 2020 and a conditional fifthrounder that year.
Mack and the Bears agreed to a six-year, $141 million extension that guarantees $90 million. That makes him the highest paid defensive player in league history one day after Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald signed a six-year, $135 million deal, with $87 million guaranteed.
The fifth overall selection in the 2014 draft, Mack is a two-time All-Pro and the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Mack has played in every game for Oakland the past four seasons, with 231 tackles, 40½ sacks, and nine forced fumbles.
Since entering the league, Mack leads all players with 185 quarterback pressures and ranks second with 68 tackles for loss, according to SportRadar.
Bills trade McCarron to Raiders for pick
Buffalo’s quarterback competition is down to two after the Bills traded AJ McCarron to the Raiders.
The Bills received a fifthround pick for McCarron.
Buffalo also has released wide receiver Corey Coleman, a 2016 first-round draft pick by Cleveland whom the Bills acquired last month.
The trade leaves secondyear pro Nathan Peterman and first-round pick Josh Allen vying for the starting quarterback job in Buffalo. Peterman had a solid preseason for Buffalo, posting the best numbers of the group, while Allen has shown flashes and a strong arm after being drafted seventh overall in April.
McCarron was initially considered the front-runner to land the starting job after signing a two-year contract in March, but struggled with inconsistent play. He also suffered a right shoulder injury in Buffalo’s second preseason game against Cleveland, which hindered his pursuit of the starting job.
The Bills chose not to hold onto Coleman, who has been a disappointment since the Browns made him the 15th overall selection two years ago. Buffalo traded a seventh-round pick in 2020 for him.
49ers’ McKinnon out for season
San Francisco 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice.
An MRI determined he tore his ACL in his right knee.
The 49ers were counting heavily on McKinnon this season after signing him to a four-year, $30 million contract in free agency.
Wrapping up
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived safety Godwin Igwebuike, a Pickerington North graduate. ... The Pittsburgh Steelers chose to keep Josh Dobbs and rookie Mason Rudolph as the primary backup quarterbacks behind Ben Roethlisberger and cut Landry Jones, a six-year veteran. ... The Indianapolis Colts cut defensive end John Simon, an Ohio State product. Simon was ninth on the team in tackles last season with 42 as a linebacker but moved to defensive end as the Colts switched from a 3-4 front to a 4-3. ... Robert Griffin III survived Baltimore’s final cutdown and will join starter Joe Flacco and first-round pick Lamar Jackson on the quarterback depth chart.