The questions keep coming. It appears Oakland Raiders edge rusher Khalil Mack is now available.
Four teams are said to be making serious inquiries about the 2016 defensive player of the year. Are the Green Bay Packers one of them?
That was posed to general manager Brian Gutekunst. While he can’t mention a player by name as long as he’s on another team, Gutekunst isn’t doing anything to quiet the speculation.
“When you’re talking about unique players, there’s only so many of them out there,” he said. “At the same time, the financial challenges may be difficult, but without players you can’t win. It’s like any significant player, they’re not inexpensive, but you have to have them to win.”
The Packers seemingly have the ability to acquire Mack. They have two 2019 first-round picks.
They have the need. Clay Matthews and Nick Perry have long injury histories. Matthews is also in the final year of his contract.
Then the question of the contract comes into play. When Mack is given a new deal, it’s expected to be around $20 million per season. With the Packers also looking to extend Aaron Rodgers, there would be a lot committed to just two players.
Gutekunst’s response seems to suggest he thinks the Packers could make it work.
On the plus side, the team has plenty of money coming off the books after the season. Both Matthews and receiver Randall Cobb have big-money deals that will be expiring.
Gutekunst obviously isn’t resistant to making a trade. He flipped cornerback Lenzy Pipkins for linebacker Antonio Morrison earlier this week.
“Again, if I think it can significantly help us this year, I’m open to anything, whether it’s player for player, or player for pick,” Gutekunst said.
I would say Khalil Mack fits into the category of a guy that can help the Packers this year.
If Mack holds out, then the Raiders would probably entertain offers. For Mack to hold out though, he has to be seriously pissed, he’ll lose 815K every game he misses. But in the big picture he’ll make that cash up in a new deal.
Personally, i would offer one 1st round pick and Cobb. If i had to, i’d offer the 2nd one also. You could trade Mathews instead of Cobb which the Raiders might prefer, but i’d rather have Mack and Perry on the outside, and Blake and Mathews on the inside. There is a lot they could do scheme wise in that situation.
Taking this almost absurd fantasy to another level. If Wilkerson could return to his form back when he got paid (i have my doubts), then there you have it, a top 10 defense.
Throwing in Cobb is like tossing in scotch guard on a sofa purchase. Most people don’t see any value especially with that contract number even if it’s short term. It will cost them multiple picks to get him. Maybe 2 one’s.
Since GB got the Saints 1 for basically nothing, and the whole league knows it.
Hence, why i said i’d throw in a 2nd #1 if i had to.
It’s obvious that Gutenkunst thinks Cobb has value. Maybe someone else will also. The Raiders aren’t exactly known for sound football decisions.
It’s hard to see a team giving up a 1st round pick for a malcontent, no matter how talented–every player is one injury away from the end of the season/career. Supposedly the Raiders want TWO 1st-rounders? I don’t see it happening. Maybe a couple second rounders plus some sweetener? Just to put it in perspective, Hall of Famer Richard Dent was drafted in the 8th round….Kurt Warner went undrafted. Tony Romo wasn’t exactly a top pick, either. Are the Packers really that interested, or just trying to bait the Bears into overspending draft picks in a trade?
He’s worth 2 1st round picks all day long. This dude can change a defense and he’s young. Think Reggie.
I don’t think he’s a malcontent, he felt disrespected and i don’t disagree with him.. I have no problem with this dude, he’s a beast.
Just because someone is a first round pick doesn’t mean that they are going to be worth anything. I don’t need to go over the endless examples of first round busts. Mack is a guaranteed superstar, and I would trade Derek Sherrod and Datone Jones for him any day of the week. Or should I say Bj Raji and Justin Harrell? Or how about Damarious Randall and Haha Quittin-Dix?
The acquisition of Mack would be an awesome upgrade, but a few possibilities may still remain . . . Most “holdouts” seem to get injured shortly after their return to play, and or do not play up to their “usual” game after they come back from a holdout. If Mack can avoid these two possibilities, this could be epic for Packer fans.
Just read where Detroit got rid of DE Ayers that they had just signed one day before . . . Could be that Mack actually will play in Detroit?
In other news…it’s been reported that Hundley was traded to Seattle a for a 2019 8th round draft pick, plus 2 boxes of Hostess Twinkies. This trade almost didn’t materialize because the Packers were reluctant to include the twinkies in this trade, but John Schneider insisted.