Totally agree on Mack. Very nice player, but the price is the poison pill that kills the deal.

People can say that no first round pick is guaranteed (which is obviously true), and that even two picks don't guarantee that either one will be commensurate with Mack's value (which is also true). But this ignores the economics of the situation. And it also ignores the fact that the Packers don't necessarily need a player who is commensurate with Mack's value. Any solid starter-quality player at OLB would go a long, long ways to shore up the Packers roster, even if he is not a DPOY. And how would TWO solid-but-not-awesome starters stack up against Mack? If the Packers had traded for Mack, they would have no first round picks to "plug holes" at places like OLB or O-line. As it is, they will have two picks. Plus 140 million dollars.

Besides, people are super-quick to point out that there are no guarantees in the draft, but what guarantee is there that Kahlil "Sure Thing" Mack will ever play to a DPOY level in the future? Not many people seem to acknowledge that under-performance from Mack is even possible. That's surprising... given the fact that even today Albert Haynesworth is only 37 years old.

Nice article Al. I agree on Mack and as I stated on this site earlier this week the 2 first round picks were not the issue for me. Once Aaron Donald's contract was announced I was hoping Gute would pull out. I also stated before Mack's contract was announced [but after Donald's was] it was gonna take 135-140mil to get him signed and that is waay, waaay, waaaay to much for any one defensive player not named Aaron Donald. With Gute forcing the Bears to sign Kyle Fuller their young CB to a very lucrative deal as well as signing Allen Robinson to another lucrative contract the Bears are setting themselves up to lose quite a few quality starters over the next few years unless Trubisky completely bombs. If he [Trubisky] has any success he will command 15-20 mil on his next contract and they'll need room for players like Leonard Floyd, Roquan Smith, Jordan Howard and Cody Whitehair just to name a few.

New era in GB with Gute. Yes, I see it and I’m all for it. I like the “athletic” type players he’s finding. I like the way he’s cutting guys ( Biegel) rather than giving them 2nd and 3rd chances, I like the way he’s getting rid of all the 3rd tier personnel that have been hanging around for several years like a bad science experiment, I like the shrewd picks in the draft, and I like that he is always looking to upgrade. This guy is no bull crap , put up or shut up. This is going to be fun to watch. Within a few years he will have completely rebuilt the team into a force to be reckoned with.

Views on this have been expressed in 'Cory's Corner'.
To encapsulate what was said there.
Will Mack make the Bears better....
of course.
Would the Packers be better or worse off if it was them that made the trade ?
The answer depends on the timescale. In the short term they would be better off, but as the timescale lengthens, the cost becomes due.....and the cost splits into two.

First is the financial cost - that size of investment means you cannot keep all of the bigger contracts (current and projected), like Bakhtiari, D.Adams, K.Clark, M.Daniels.

Second is the draft pick cost. Losing multiple high picks is a cost that will hurt the Packers going forward. They ALWAYS have a critical need for starter-level players to fill weak spots, and loss of high picks has a powerful impact on that.

The biggest effect of gaining a super-high-profile player is on the fanbase. The Bears fanbase needs that marquee signing far more than the Packers do. So, while the move is probably a good one (certainly in the shorter term) for the Bears, it is not so important for the Packers, especially when you look at the price paid for Mack's services.

"I think it's safe to just say, "Sir, we knew Reggie White, and Khalil Mack is no Reggie White.""

It is very safe to say that. I'm glad Gute took a good hard look at the deal. Based on what I've seen from him so far, I don't think he is being overly cautious in passing. Somewhere between TT and John Schneider on the aggression scale is right where I want the Pack's GM and Gute is slotting in nicely.

Another good one Al, like the style of these posts. Hard to disagree with any of it.

I think that going forward in this division it will be imperative for the team to have a big time blocking tight end.

Like everyone else I would have loved to see Mack play for the Packers but not at the price it was going to take. Having $57 million (Approximately) tied up in 2 players starting in 2019 is WAY to much. Gute tried to sign him and when it became to ridiculous he got out. Well played Gute! Now the Packers have 2 1st round picks and can either use them both or package them to move up in what will be one of the best drafts for a pass rusher in recent memory AND at an affordable contract for 5 years.....Not to shabby Gute!

I too am looking forward to watching the defense. I'd feel a hell of a lot better if Burks was healthy but all in all I think it will be the Packers defense we're talking about Monday morning, not the Bears and Mack. Well the Packers defense and the start of Aaron Rodgers mission of shedding defenses this season.

Al,
I'm with you on Mack. I would have loved to have had him. I honestly would have considered giving up 2 first round picks for him, especially if we would have got a 2nd round pick back in the deal.
That being said, I'm not sure how this team would afford to have Rodgers contract plus Macks on the same team. Not when they would be looking to retain some players next year and trying to go after a few others. One thing we should know by now that outside of the QB it takes more then 1 great player to win a championship.

I can't wait to see what the defense looks like. We have spent so much time in the last week or so talking about Mack and the lack of OLB's that we haven't been focusing on what we do have. That is one of the best DL's in the league. With Daniels, Clark and Wilkerson I expect Pettine to run the defense through those guys. We still have Mathews, Perry and now have Gilbert. Blake Martinez is a tackling Machine. And our CB's look deeper then ever.

I can't wait to see the schemes Pettine comes up with to confuse Trubisky. Throughout the preseason he has ran a very vanilla defense. Basically just to see what each player could or couldn't do. Now we get to see what it looks like when he schemes it.

As much as I can't wait to see the new look defense, I also can't wait to see the new look offense. With the new players the offense will have a new look and feel to it. But not only the players are going to create a new look. Bringing Philbin back will make the offense better as well.

This is going to be a fun game! I can't wait to see how they look!

There is no question Khalil Mack is a great player. It was pretty clear the Packers (Gute) were interested and tried to (at least) make an offer. In the past that is not a direction this organization would take. In the end we didn't win out. I go back to something Gute said when he was hired. He made it clear we would consider all options to better the team. He did but it takes two to tango. Packers are not going to get every player but I appreciate he tried.
Secondly, the net result is we held on to two #1 Draft Picks in 2019. That is a great asset to have and still gives the Packers great flexibility now and beyond. I think he is doing a good job balancing the needs of the present with those of the future. I will be patient to see how this shakes out.

Al, good job and agree 100% with the Mack deal. It's one thing to pay that kind of salary, it's another to have to give up multiple #1 picks and take the Cap hit. TT wasn't a bad GM. I'm sorry, but just no way can you say that about a team that contends every year. It does appear that Gutsey is showing no fear in bringing in talent to the organization. That is different from TT and I would say an improvement. Can't help but wonder how those two #1s will be used next year.

Green Bay has the team to win another SB, let's enjoy the ride and how far they get.
Go Pack Go!

Too expensive! 2 first rds. all that $$$$. For a LB? I doubt you could get two first rounds for A-rod, and dump his contract now. And he's the legend, where Mack isn't. At some point it's all about me. Mack has it written all over him. Saving the Money is a no brainer. Paying for performance is Good business! How many veterans are really earning their money now. They all sure do have issues. But look at the facts. Break down his salary per Game. He didn't avg. 1 sack a game. He should have at least 2 pressures a game. His tackles should be a 100 a year. Choice was: is he worth it? Seems Gute wasn't the only one who saw the writing on the wall. Seems the Raiders added it up. The Mack Buzz will go away, when we select two new LBs with those #1s.

I think the biggest transition with Gute--both in players acquired and players kept--is a complete roster makeover from recent years in terms of speed.

1. Tonyan is much faster than Ripkowski.

2. Graham and Lewis are much faster than Richard Rodgers (but then, aren't we all?)

3. MCW and ESB are much faster than Jordy.

4. Burks and Toomer are far faster than Ryan and whoever else we tried next to Martinez.

5. Alexander is faster than Randall, and Jackson--at least in play speed--is faster than Rollins.

6. Josh Jones was kept, while Vince Biegel was shown the door. Yeah, not apples to apples there, but the priority seems the same.

7. Even our new running back--Darius Jackson--is a burner, and possibly little else.

8. And our Practice Squad develops guys like Donnerson and Brown.

Point is, you can have one technician like Geronimo Allison, whose hands, route-savvy, and catch radius make for a decent target. But you can't have many guys like that, or your special teams will be too slow to gun down returners or make open field blocks for returns. You can have one Richard Rodgers on the field--maybe--but if everyone else can't fly, the defense will press and smother.

Speed isn't everything, but Gute understands it's a big field out there, and you can't enter every game as the slower team.

THAT is by far the biggest difference I see.

ALP, you nailed it. For better or worse we have a different future under GoodKiss. Perhaps it’s also due to the different management structure with no silos. We also have a new OC and DC. A new philosophy has emerged in GB. For better or worse, but today I like it.

Mack will eventually help Chicago's defense considerably, but at a very considerable price. The Pack is catching somewhat of a break having them as the first game of the year, especially with him and Smith both missing lots of valuable training camp time. The Bears have to be careful not to push either, or they may end up with one or both missing time with a strain or pull. I don't expect the game to be a cake walk, but I believe Rodgers is more than capable of handling any defense, as long as he has a decent OL.
My demented self would love to see the Bear's new toy pull a muscle and spend half the season in the training room. Not because I wish any ill will on Mack, but mainly because Ryan Pace has acted so smug about the trade.

GM's have to do everything to win now without mortgaging the future. Every year we see the fans of teams going nuts when their team finally makes the playoffs. Making the playoffs this year will be no cake walk, the NFC is loaded. The Packers schedule is brutal and I think 10 wins will be on the bubble. Getting off to a 2-0 start will be huge, especially against 2 division teams. It seems MM teams start slow, this year is not an option. Philbin needs a game plan to get the ball out of AR's hands quickly because we see some defenses that can get after QBs. Our o line will be more important than ever, stay healthy.

Mack became a major distraction for the Raiders. Could you imagine if AR sat out demanding his contract be done right away because other QB's were making more? No, he said I'm under contract and am here to play football for the Packers. Mack and a lot of other guys are not team players, they want to cash in and make as much as possible. It's hard to blame them though, careers can end in an instant. But it seemed a little strange that he and Gruden didn't even talk? The win at any cost became too expensive for Gute and the Packers when it came to Mack. He showed no love for his old team, what makes his new team any different, the money?

Good article AL. I've said from the beginning that I would love to have Mack on the Packers but that the price is too high. Especially the draft capital required.

As for Reggie White he was an all-time NFL great. An immortal player, like a Nitschke or a Unitas or Montana.
Mack is a great player but not at Reggie's level, at least not yet, if he ever gets there.

Completely agree on Gute. He is aggressively remaking the Packer's roster and is willing to make moves that TT was reluctant to do. Gute had a better draft spot than TT has had for years. Hopefully, the Packers will return to the playoffs, at least, for this season and then we can see how Gute does with picks #24 or higher. However, let's get through 2018 before becoming concerned with the 2019 draft. Thanks, Since '61

"But is a 10-11 sack, 75 tackles player worth the price in picks and money? That's where I have to just say no. "

I'm just curious what folks think the chances are of getting a player like Mack with either of thise picks. Based on looking at recent end off 1st rounds I would put it at about 5%. Anyone have a different thought?

Adding a known quantity in Mack for draft picks for an immediate area of need was extremely tempting,but I don't feel badly based on how much Chicago gave up. In the back of my mind I wonder how much my judgement was clouded by how well Mack played against us,so Im ok with it now.

The price was too high both financially and pick-wise. You know we're going to need one of them for the O-line.

Speaking of White, I remember that one game where a Vikings' WR attempted to block him, and the WR got tossed about 5 yards like a ragdoll.

Go Pack

I would like to blame the last remnants of teddie's disease for so many refusing to recall or actually not recalling the terrible wasted first round draft choices.

Get a "GUY" like Mack? Does anyone recall a 10th pick overall? or the 5th pick overall? were either remotely like a "GUY"? Did either ever impact a game like Mack?

Go back further, Raji still has his fans because of his chubby happy commercials and the luck of Jenkins and CM3 his rookie year. Would anyone take Raji over Mack?

How about Rich Campbell?

All these platitudes about the draft tend to nonsense. In 2015 the teddisphere and this site were raving about the great picks of teddie the magnificient....

Al, I like what you did with the Pettine's Defense section.
Hopefully, a defensive renaissance is in the 'cards' for the Packers this season.

Agree with most of the posters & Al here about Mack being too expensive at two ones combined with around $141 mil in total outlays. I keep hearing what an advantage it is having a QB on an initial cheap contract and five years of control. Much easier to build around him. Well that applies to any other first rounder regardless of position. Assuming Gute is somewhat competent as an evaluator of talent the first two rounds have supplied 70% of first-team all pros: https://www.betlabssports.com/blog/picks-perform-best-nfl-draft/

Why do you want to give up the best chance of acquiring impact players on the cheap and in the case of first rounders under your control for five years? It's a steep price for a non QB.

Also agree that this mini-rebuild is more like a two year process than just this year. Arod keeps himself in pretty good shape. He should be just as viable next year and a few years after as this year. Plus they protect QB's much more now than they used to.

As far as Mack vs. Reggie, can Mack do this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkiIqKQMRlA

or this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfyofwO776s

Well lets hope not this Sunday night.

thanks Jersey Al.. great title for the commentary.. and right on with your thoughts and wisdom.

Hell of a good article. It represents what many Pack Fans are feeling going into game 1, season 2018.

"This is truly a new era in Green Bay. Enjoy the ride."

Very good read Jersey Al. I agree. Mack is no Reggie White. The Reggie signing changed the entire Packers franchise around. Not only was Reggie one of the greatest players of all time he was also a Minister and was highly respected by every single NFL player. When he signed with Green Bay it sent a new message that it was cool and ok to sign with Green Bay after years of "threats" from coaches on other teams threatening to ship them to Green Bay. Mack will not have that same impact in Chicago that Reggie did in Green Bay. Whatever Mack is worth, Reggie would be getting double that if he were playing today.