Aaron Rodgers: New deal frees up space to get Khalil Mack
Aaron Rodgers signed a new mega-contract with the Green Bay Packers, which just so happened to free up enough space this year to get Khalil Mack.
The Green Bay Packers have been rumored to be working on a record-setting contract for quarterback Aaron Rodgers for quite some time now, and after all the dust settled from the contracts signed by Jimmy Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins this offseason, they pulled it off.
According to a variety of reports, Rodgers and the Packers have agreed to the richest contract extension in the history of the NFL.
Here are the details:
#Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is signing his name to his 4-year contract extension as we speak and when he does, he’ll net a $57.5M signing bonus. By the end of 2018, thanks to his $134M extension, Rodgers gets $66.9M.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2018
The story of Rodgers’ extension is obviously a major one, but what are the Packers going to do from here, if anything?
They have the chance to do so.
Because Rodgers’ bonus is spread out to March 2019, the Packers freed up enough money on the 2018 salary cap to be able to afford the $13-plus million cap hit of Khalil Mack, who is rumored to be available for the right price.
If the Packers feel like they can afford Mack and have enough of their other pieces either in place or under a rookie contract, they should send the Raiders a large care package for their star pass rusher.
The Packers have pieces in place offensively with Rodgers, Davante Adams, David Bakhtiari, Jimmy Graham, and a host of others. Defensively, their young secondary looks like it could be one of the most improved in the NFL and the Packers also have a very solid defensive line led by Mike Daniels.
What the Packers lack is a star presence off the edge.
Clay Matthews has not eclipsed double-digit sacks since 2014 and hasn’t played a full 16 game season since 2015.
The Packers are going to be picking near the bottom of every round provided Rodgers is able to stay healthy, so why not send a first-round pick or even a couple first-round picks to the Raiders if that’s what it will take for Mack?
Khalil Mack, Shane Ray, Earl Thomas trade rumors. dark. Next
Some NFL team is going to do the really smart thing and trade for Mack for a couple of draft picks as he enters the prime of his career. If the Raiders feel like he really doesn’t want to buy into Gruden-ball, and they aren’t going to pay him, the Packers should try and pounce with Rodgers locked in for the foreseeable future.