Khalil Mack had 41 points of AV over the last three years, tied for the 14th-most in the NFL, and 5th-most among defensive players. And after being traded to the Chicago Bears at the age of 27, making him the rare star defensive player to change teams in his prime.

How rare? I looked at players who met the following criteria:

• Produced at least 35 points of AV over 3 consecutive years while playing for the same team;

• Switched teams after the season and were 29 years or younger at the start of the new season

The last defensive player to fit those criteria was Ndamukong Suh, who joined the Dolphins as a mega free agent signing after an excellent run in Detroit. Suh signed a 6-year, $114M contract with Miami, and Suh wound up earning half of those contract over 3 years. Suh’s tenure with the Dolphins was disappointing, although mostly compared to the expectations created by his large contract.

Elvis Dumervil wound up in Baltimore after a fax machine mishap wound up in him being released from the Broncos. Dumervil had 17.0, 9.5, and 11.0 sacks in the three prior seasons (well, he missed one full season in between due to injury), and then had 9.5 sacks and 17.0 sacks his first two seasons in Baltimore.

Albert Haynesworth is the opposite end of the spectrum. He was an AP first-team All-Pro in both 2007 and 2008 with the Titans, and then joined Washington for his age 28 season. He is remembered as one of the worst blockbuster free agent signings in history.

Jared Allen was traded from the Chiefs to the Vikings just days before the 2008 Draft. The Chiefs traded Allen and their 2008 6th round pick (which turned out to be John Sullivan, who started 93 games at center for Minnesota) to Minnesota for the Vikings 1st round pick (KC traded up two spots to select Branden Albert), two third round picks (used to draft Jamaal Charles and DB DaJuan Morgan), and 2008 sixth round pick (WR Kevin Robinson). That might have been the rare win-win trade: Albert and Charles were stars, and Allen had a great career in Minnesota. He was a first-team All-Pro his last season in Kansas City and then three of his first four seasons in Minnesota.

The Raiders have also gone down this road before with Jon Gruden. In 1998, Gruden joined the Raiders and allowed DT Chester McGlockton to sign with the rival Chiefs.  McGlockton was a Pro Bowl each of the last four seasons, but left Oakland similar to Mack (but 18 months older).  After letting him leave, Oakland received the 31st and 59th overall picks in the draft as compensation.  Gruden responded by saying “We think we can get some players who can impact the team this year and for years to come… It’s going to be the bloodline of our organization.”   Suffice it to say, the 1998 Draft was not a good one for Oakland, other than using the 4th overall on a future Hall of Famer.

The table below shows all players who met the above criteria:

What do you think?