There has been a lot of speculation recently about the relationship between star defensive end Khalil Mack and the Raiders front office. Mack has been holding out of camp because he wants a new contract, and as of right now the Raiders have been unwilling to give him one.
Therefore, the rumors have moved to trading Mack, as he is too valuable to miss an entire season.
With no apparent progress toward a long-term deal, could/would/should the Raiders consider trading Khalil Mack? https://t.co/hiPceuV3rZ
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 7, 2018
The latest NFL team that has found themselves in the center of those rumors are the Green Bay Packers, as their general manager Brian Gutekunst has hinted that they are interested.
Him and Reggie McKenzie have a close relationship. Could they try and work out a deal?
Would Brian Gutekunst call his good friend, Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, if Khalil Mack were available in a trade: "I would give Reggie a call anyways, whether he was or wasn't … We're going to kind of have conversations about everything. There's some… https://t.co/IHUjKGxXnK
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 7, 2018
This would be a great move for the Packers, as they just placed linebacker Jake Ryan on season ending IR. Ryan was one of the most effective pass rushers in the league, receiving the fourth-highest pass rush grade for off-ball linebackers in 2017 from Pro Football Focus. Even though Mack is not necessarily a linebacker, he can still help fill the void in the pass rush that was left by Ryan’s injury.
The Packers also have the necessary tools to do the job. According to packerswire.com, Green Bay has “two first-round picks next year, a need for a long-term answer at edge rusher and the future cap space to satisfy whatever Mack desires financially.”
Sounds like a match made in heaven to me. Get it done, Gutekunst.
