Bears fans looking for a blockbuster trade might not want to get their hopes up.
With Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack continuing his holdout, speculation has run rampant about a team like Chicago acquiring the star pass-rusher.
Early indications are, he’s not going anywhere.
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Albert Breer from the MMQB reported Monday that “inquiries about Mack’s availability from other NFL outposts have been quickly met with a no.”
This doesn’t mean that the Raiders couldn’t change their mind at some point, but for now, Mack appears to be off the market.
Any potential deal for the 2016 Defensive Play of the Year would require massive compensation, likely a first-round pick and more. The team that trades for him also has to give him a long-term contract extension, which could cost upward of $20 million per season.
Still, the Bears remain among the favorites for Mack’s potential destination because of their available cap space and lack of proven pass-rushers.
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The longer the holdout goes, the more pressure Oakland may feel to make a move with their Pro-Bowl edge rusher. When the trade deadline rolls around at the end of October, the Raiders could be more likely to pick up the phone.