The once illusory trade rumors about Khalil Mack are becoming more and more concrete: The Oakland Raiders’ defensive end, which is still in the holdout, appears to cost potential buyers at least two first-round picks.
This is reported by NFL network reporter Tom Pelissero. Other team leaders now expect the Raiders to demand two first-round picks for Mack after Raiders boss Reggie McKenzie had his first trade talks and the teams were able to feel the game.
Among other things, he is said to have been offered a first-round pick and another high draft pick. According to Pelissero, player trades have also been discussed. McKenzie is said not to have signalled to any team that he definitely wants to get rid of Mack, a trade would also come with the contract in mind: “The team that gets Mack would probably have to be able to offer a long-term contract with an annual salary of more than 20 million dollars.
The exact situation in Oakland, however, remains open. The fronts between Mack and the Raiders are said to be very hardened, with the new head coach Jon Gruden he reportedly had no contact at all.
Already at the beginning of the week, the trade rumors about Mack had become more tangible for the first time: According to information from Pro Football Talk, twelve teams have reportedly contacted the Raiders about a trade, four of which are said to be working specifically on a trade for the star-pass rusher.
The four teams are not known, but around the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions there are reports that both still want to sign an edge-rusher. Wherever Mack goes, he should actually change – with his qualities a trade might have league-wide effects.
Until then, however, he remains in the holdout for the time being. The 27-year-old will enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2018 and would be an unrestricted free agent after the coming season. Should his holdout extend into the regular season, which is now firmly established, it would cost him over $800,000 per game.