2018 NFL Trade Machine: Khalil Mack to the Packers
By Erik Lambert
The Oakland Raiders may not want to be part of the 2018 NFL trade machine when it comes to Khalil Mack, but it’s drifting that way.
Nobody is entirely sure where the team stands in regards to their star pass rusher. All that’s known is the following. Mack is planning to hold out until some progress is made on a new contract. He’s their best defensive player and probably best player overall and he knows it. He has significant leverage in this situation and likely should become the highest-paid defender in the NFL.
If this were a year ago the odds are he would’ve been paid. The problem is Reggie McKenzie, the man who drafted him, isn’t calling the shots anymore. That changed when Jon Gruden took over as head coach. He has final say over the roster and he’s already made a number of interesting decisions that would suggest he’s not above shipping Mack out if pushed to that point.
Would they dare trade him? If so it would take a king’s ransom, and there may be one team with the ammunition and desire to make it.
Packers could go after Super Bowl if they pry mack from Oakland
The Green Bay Packers know their Super Bowl window won’t stay open forever. Aaron Rodgers is getting older and now will be playing with two surgically-repaired collarbones. They can’t expect him to do it all himself. They need to fortify the rest of the roster if they’re going to get another championship before it’s too late. That may require a more aggressive approach. What better way to do that than making an all-in trade for Mack?
Think about it. Pairing him with Clay Matthews would be an instant sensation for that Packers defense, especially after their heavy investments at cornerback in the draft. What makes this a feasible plan is the Packers are well-armed for such a move. They have two 1st round picks in the 2019 draft. They could easily offer up both to the Raiders for Mack without a second thought. Oakland now has three 1sts in 2019 and the Packers get their badly-needed star defender.
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Add in the fact that the 2019 draft class is looking strong in pass rushers and it’s as good a deal as they’re likely to find. Odds are it doesn’t happen, but this is the NFL. Never say never.