NFL trade rumors: Khalil Mack, Shane Ray, Earl Thomas ideas

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OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 09: Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders reacts after a play against the San Diego Chargers during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 9, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Khalil Mack, DE

Let’s start off by stating the obvious: The Oakland Raiders should not be trading Khalil Mack.

Mack is a superstar defensive player and the natural progression here is that the team would pay him like a defensive superstar.

Maybe everything that’s going on with Mack is simply the result of him waiting out Aaron Donald in Los Angeles, wanting to be the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.

That is a possibility.

The Raiders, however, aren’t likely as concerned about that as they are about winning the AFC West in Jon Gruden’s first year with the team.

It feels like the relationship between Mack and the Raiders is going sour and getting worse in a hurry.

Which teams would trade for Mack?

The list of teams interested in Mack would be right around 32, but not all 32 teams can realistically consider trading him.

No one in the AFC West is getting him. The Raiders just aren’t going to do that.

There are also only eight teams with more than $15 million in cap space right now.

Not that teams can’t free up space, but Mack carries with him a $13.846 million cap hit fully guaranteed on the fifth year of his rookie contract.

There are still teams that can — and should — trade for him at that price.

Here are the top four options in my mind:

1. Chicago Bears

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. New York Jets

4. San Francisco 49ers

Those four teams are in no particular order, but they are all teams that have something in common. They are all teams that have a strong, young core, and they all have a top flight young quarterback or prospect at the position.

Those teams are all positioned pretty well to compete right now, not necessarily for a championship but with Mack in the fold, who knows?

Those four teams are also all in the top eight in the NFL when it comes to available cap space.

One of those four teams should get a deal for Mack done ASAP.

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