Just Blog Baby
FanSided

3 reasons the Oakland Raiders won the Khalil Mack trade

By Pete Hernandez III

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders (R) embraces Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears following the match between the Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders (R) embraces Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears following the match between the Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 15: Offensive tackle Trent Brown #77 of the Oakland Raiders watches from the sidelines during the first half of the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 15: Offensive tackle Trent Brown #77 of the Oakland Raiders watches from the sidelines during the first half of the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Trent Brown

Khalil Mack wanted to become the highest-paid defensive player, and rightfully so. But had the Raiders gone through with it, they would effectively be allocating the big money to two players: their franchise QB in Derek Carr and a premier pass rusher in Khalil Mack. But let’s face it, what good is it to have one premier pass rusher when he’s surrounded by holes on the defense?

More importantly, what good is it to have a franchise QB when he’s constantly running for his life in the pocket? That was the case last year when Carr was sacked third most (51 times) of all NFL quarterbacks. Hence why Oakland made Trent Brown the highest-paid tackle immediately at the start of free agency.

Yet, Trent Brown (the best ‘Brown’ signing by far for Oakland) wouldn’t be in Oakland had the Raiders given Mack the money to be the highest-paid defensive player. A team has to protect their franchise quarterback, and that’s why they ended up reserving that cap space. Safe to say the bet paid off. What just happened on Sunday? Khalil Mack with three tackles, one QB hit, but zero sacks. Who was lined up across from him? Trent Brown, and he ended up on the winning side in London.

Home/Las Vegas Raiders News