Raiders try to cash in on Khalil Mack trade, Josh Rosen rumors and more
When the Oakland Raiders traded Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears, the move was widely panned. Was it the right call? In a few weeks, we’ll begin to know.
The Oakland Raiders got crushed for trading away Khalil Mack. Now they get to prove their logic was sound.
On Sept. 1, the Raiders and Chicago Bears completed a blockbuster trade. Oakland received first-round picks in 2019 and ’20, along with a sixth-round choice this spring and a third-round selection next year from Chicago. In return, the Bears received Mack and 2020 second and fifth-round picks.
In Oakland, the message was simple. The Raiders were rebuilding for the long haul under new Head Coach Jon Gruden. Now, armed with a trio of picks — Gruden acquired a third first-round choice by dealing Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys — it’s time to make good.
With the fourth, 24th and 27th-overall selections, General Manager Mike Mayock and Gruden have ample capital. After acquiring wide receivers Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams and left tackle Trent Brown, the focus should rightfully be on defense in a defense-heavy draft.
Still, what qualifies as a win for the Raiders after sending a transcendent All-Pro talent away in the prime of his career?
For starters, Oakland must land someone comparable to Mack. While it’s likely impossible to completely replace his level of production, the Raiders have to find an All-Pro level edge rusher. Additionally, Mayock and Gruden have to find another Pro Bowl level talent within those first three picks, considering Cooper played at that level in Oakland, and then again in Dallas after being dealt.
In short, the Raiders need to hit decisively on two of their three first-round choices. Anything less, and Oakland should have used its sizable cap space to extend Mack and Cooper. The other pathway to winning the deal? Using said capital to move up and select a franchise quarterback.
For months, there has been talk about whether the Arizona Cardinals were actually interested in Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, or posturing in hopes a team would make a Godfather offer for the No. 1 overall pick. Additionally, there have been strong rumors in league circles since the NFL Scouting Combine that Oakland is smitten with Murray.
If Oakland can package selections and convince Arizona to stick with Josh Rosen while moving into the top spot, the jettisoning of Mack and Cooper suddenly has a chance to make sense.
Considering the AFC West landscape, the Raiders need to upgrade at quarterback before they are serious players. Patrick Mahomes appears to be a force for years to come, and in Derek Carr’s five NFL seasons, he has yet to prove he’s more than an average player. Landing Murray wouldn’t provide a certain rebuttal to Mahomes’ dominance, but it would be a chance to compete. With Carr, that doesn’t exist.
In every draft, there are a litany of storylines. In this one, there are two. Where will Murray wind up, and what who the Raiders walk away with? The answers could end up being intertwined. If not, Oakland has to make damn sure it doesn’t whiff in the early going. If it does, the disaster is doubled.
Power rankings
Top 10 ugliest uniforms in NFL history
1. Pittsburgh Steelers – Bumble Bees
2. Denver Broncos – Vertical stripes edition
3. Cincinnati Bengals – Current look
4. Jacksonville Jaguars – Two-tone helmet era
5. Philadelphia Eagles – Blue and yellow throwbacks
6. Tennessee Titans – Current look
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Current look
8. New York Giants – Red tops
9. Green Bay Packers – ACME Packing Company throwbacks
10. Buffalo Bills – Drew Bledsoe era
Quotable
"“I always like draft picks, so if we can move back a couple spots and pick up another pick, I think the depth of this draft from the late first to the third, there’s a lot of really good players in there. If I could move back a few spots, add a great player and a pick, that’d be something that would be great. People out there listening, I’m open for business.”"
– Detroit Lions General Manager Bob Quinn talks about trading down in the draft
The Lions certainly aren’t alone in this thinking. With so much depth in this class, look for plenty of teams drafting early to attempt moving down for a multitude of selections. The New York Jets would make more sense than most, considering they are without a second-round choice. Conversely, keep an eye on the Raiders for a move up.
Podcast
Join Matt Verderame and Josh Hill each week as they break down all the latest NFL news and rumors. This week, recently retired Houston Texans safety Andre Hal joins the guys to talk the next stage of his career, his greatest moment in football and why the Texans are dangerous in 2019.
Make sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and get each episode automatically downloaded onto your devices!
Random stat
Inn 1978, the New England Patriots set a record with 3,165 rushing yards as a team. Incredibly, Sam Cunningham led them individually with only 768 yards on the ground.
Info learned this week
1. Seahawks, Wilson facing deadline on extension
Russell Wilson wants his money, and he wants it by April 15.
The quarterback laid out his demands for a new contract, and while deadlines of this ilk can always be fudged, the message is clear. Seattle needs to pay Wilson or face another nasty, public holdout like it dealt with regarding Earl Thomas a year ago.
Wilson’s current deal has one year left at $25.286 million. At 30 years old, he remains one of the top half-dozen quarterbacks in the game. It stands to reason that given the climate for his position, Wilson should be aiming for a deal approximating six years and $200 million with half of it guaranteed.
However, the Seahawks could play hardball here. Seattle might believe that tagging Wilson for the 2020 and 2021 seasons is the right move while eyeing a replacement. This provides long-term cap flexibility, but it’s a massive risk. Replacing a possible Hall of Famer at the game’s most important position likely proves very difficult.
In the end, expect Wilson to get his mega-deal. The Seahawks may not want to pay a huge sum to a player on the wrong side of 30, but it’s the most realistic move.
2. Redskins make ample sense for Rosen
For weeks, Arizona quarterback Josh Rosen has been rumored to the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants and New England Patriots. Enter the Washington Redskins.
Washington traded for Case Keenum earlier this offseason, but his contract runs out after this year. Rosen would provide a tremendous opportunity for the cash-strapped ‘Skins, giving them a young quarterback on the cheap while Alex Smith’s deal runs out.
The Cardinals are infatuated with Kyler Murray, who seems a sure bet to go No. 1 overall – to Arizona or otherwise. If General Manager Steve Keim is indeed hellbent on selecting Murray, he needs to deal Rosen before the draft. Otherwise, his hand is shown to the league and Rosen’s value plummets.
3. Without picks, Pace and Bears are in a tough spot
The Chicago Bears are without first and second-round picks in the upcoming draft. Meanwhile, the Packers hold a pair of first-round choices after spending lavishly in free agency.
Translation? Green Bay is closing the gap on Chicago.
Bears General Manager Ryan Pace was hamstrung by a tight cap in free agency, and now is without draft capital after acquiring Khalil Mack a year ago. Of course, Mack was well worth the picks, but Pace and his crew can’t sit back with a chance to win another division title and perhaps advance further into the NFC playoffs.
Next year, the Bears are again without their top choice but hold a pair of second-rounders including Oakland’s. If Pace sees somebody in this draft that he believes is an immediate impact player, he’ll have to consider trading future choices to move back into the early stages of the 2019 draft.
4. San Francisco may have tipped its hand in Beckham discussions
The San Francisco 49ers wanted Odell Beckham Jr. They missed out, but their interest was telling.
While the New York Giants eventually traded Beckham to the Cleveland Browns, it leaves a road map for what 49ers General Manager John Lynch is thinking as he head towards the draft. It’s impossible to see San Francisco going with a wide receiver at No. 2 overall — just pencil Nick Bosa right in — but the top of the second round is a sweet spot for a receiver.
While the 49ers could be looking at N’Keal Harry, A.J. Brown, Hollywood Brown, Kelvin Harmon and others in that area, other teams will undoubtedly be doing the same. Knowing their Beckham interest, rival GMs with interest in receivers may try to leapfrog the 49ers to get their guy. In turn, does Lynch try to move up, costing himself draft capital to secure a receiver?
It’s possible that Lynch and San Francisco stand pat, feeling there isn’t much difference between the group. However, if they have identified a receiver they like, their interest in Beckham could make that player more expensive.
5. NFL over/unders released with Pats leading the way
Maybe I’m a degenerate, but few things are more enjoyable during the NFL offseason than the release of over/under lines.
Vegas has released the openers, and the Patriots have the highest number at 11, while the Miami Dolphins are the lowest at five. The other teams in double digits are the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams, all checking in at 10.5.
While the draft hasn’t happened yet, a few lines that jumped out for me include the Baltimore Ravens (8) and Indianapolis Colts (9.5).
Baltimore doesn’t have much of an offense, and that division is tougher. Give me the under. As for Indianapolis, that’s a stone-cold lock for the over unless Andrew Luck gets hurt. Indy won 10 games last year after starting 1-5, and that roster is already better, with three of the top 50 picks in the draft coming up.
History lesson
NFL playoff games being played indoors is a common occurrence these days. That wasn’t always the case.
The Super Bowl wasn’t played in a dome until the 1977 season, when the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys squared off. Incredibly, the first indoor game for the Divisional round didn’t happen until 1991, when the Cowboys visited the Lions in the Pontiac Silverdome.
The conference championships would wait for a dome game until ’98, when the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings played their classic at the Metrodome.
Parting shot
The Los Angeles Chargers are attempting to chase down the Chiefs in the AFC West. The NFL is putting them at a distinct disadvantage to do so.
While Kansas City is playing eight true home games, Los Angeles is being forced to host the Chiefs in Mexico City. The league is trying to expand to international markets. However, no team has ever been forced to play such a critical contest at a neutral venue.
Frankly, the league should change its guidelines for international games. If the opponents share a division, those should be off limits. Imagine if the season ends with the Chiefs edging the Chargers in the AFC West, and the difference is Kansas City having won a tight game in Mexico.
Playing international games is good business for the NFL. Doing so in this fashion isn’t.