NFL execs and scouts question Raiders compensation , timing of Khalil Mack trade

The momentOakland Raiders Womens T-Shirt Jon Gruden signed a 10-year, $100 million contract that would mark the return of ‘Chucky’ to the NFL sidelines, it was inevitable there would be fireworks in Oakland. But nobody could have expected what would happen next: Gruden trading Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a package including two first round picks.The two first round picks, a 2020 third round pick, and a sixth round selection in 2019 that the Raiders received is the highest compensation given for a defensive player in NFL history. But along with trading a future Hall of Famer, they also gave the Bears a second round pick and a conditional fifth round pick in 2020.The fact Oakland gave up more than just Mack is unacceptable, as Gruden held all of the leverage with multiple teams highly interested in acquiring the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. NFL executives and scouts across the league agree there is no excuse for the timing of the move and the lack of compensation the Raiders received in the trade.“The entire thing is confusing,” one high-ranking NFL executive told The Athletic’s John Middlekauff. “If you publicly say half the league was interested, how do you include a second? That should be a general manager’s dream. A true seller’s market. The very definition, you should hold an auction.”On the surface, exchanging a second round selection for a third round pick may not seem like a big deal. But when you factor in how the Raiders will perform without Mack, and that the Bears could very well be in the playoffs, the drop from the second round pick the Bears acquired to the Raiders pick in the third round could be steep. “Worst case — what if the Bears go 10-6 next year and Raiders go 5-11?” an NFL exec explained. “That pick swap could lead the Bears to having pick 40 and the Raiders having pick 80. That’s insane. The Raiders were giving them Khalil Mack. Why would they have to risk that? They had the leverage.”“If they were willing to part with two first-rounders, no chance they were blowing the deal over a pick swap,” added another executive. The most powerful move in a negotiation is to say no. When the Bears asked for a second round pick, Gruden should have told them to kick rocks. As Bears head coach Matt Nagy told Middlekauff, “we weren’t stopping until we got him.”Had Gruden waited even just a couple more days to trade Mack, he could have very likely received more in compensation as well as keeping the second and fifth round picks he sent Chicago. The second glaring issue with Gruden’s handling of the Mack trade is the timing of the move. Back in January when Gruden took over as Raiders head coach, there was no secret that both Aaron Donald and Mack would command over $20 million per year. After the Bears reached a record six-year Oakland Raiders Hats , $141 million extension making Mack the highest paid defensive player in NFL history, Gruden made it clear he never intended to pay Mack the salary that the market demanded. “We made him an offer,” Gruden said. “I don’t believe we were anywhere close to where the Bears were.” So if Gruden never planned on being close to what the market demanded for Mack, he should have traded him before the 2018 NFL draft when the order was already set. Among the teams reportedly interested in Mack were the Cleveland Browns, who held the first and fourth overall picks in the draft. With the Browns bounty of picks in the upcoming years, it is highly likely Gruden could have received the fourth overall pick along with a second first round pick in 2019. With that pick, the Raiders could have drafted Bradley Chubb who was widely-viewed as the top defensive player in the draft. While Mack is irreplaceable, Chubb is still a very talented pass rusher that the Silver & Black could have had immediately and for at least four years under a rookie contract.Instead, Gruden and the Raiders are left guessing as to where the two first round picks received from the Bears will fall. With a legitimate chance Chicago makes the playoffs, both picks should fall outside of the top-15 decreasing Oakland’s chances of landing a true impact player. Another option would have been to wait until after the 2018 season to trade Mack, when the order for the 2019 draft would be set. When asked why Gruden decided to deal Mack just one week before the season opener, he responded, “No guarantee we get two 1’s next year.”Come on. Gruden had multiple teams practically begging for Mack. The only way that would change in the next few months would be a major injury to Mack, which seems highly unlikely.It is never a good look when a team moves on from a transcendent talent such as Mack. But a deeper dive into the trade paints an even bleaker picture for Raider fans, one that executive and scouts agree shows the Raiders got fleeced. Follow @TylerGreenSBRaiders first quarter report For a moment it looked as if the Raiders would get off to an 0-4 start, but thanks to a week four come from behind win in overtime the Raiders finish the first quarter of the season witha 1-3 record. It certainly has not been the start Raiders players, coaches, and fans were hoping for.Anytime your head coach and general manager trades a future hall of fame pass rusher away one week before the season, things are bound to be a little rocky.There are multiple ways to assess the first four weeks of the 2018 season Oakland Raiders Womens Hoodie , and that depends greatly on if you are a “glass half full” or “glass half empty” kind of thinker.No matter how you look at it, the Raiders have earned themselves a 1-3 record, last in the AFC west division.Offensive and defensive ranksCurrently, the Raiders rank second in total offense with 1,767 yards (441.8 per game).The majority of the yards come through the air (333 per game).It was nice to see Marshawn Lynch have a big game in week four, the run game needs to improve if the Raiders are to have success in the next quarter in the season.The Raiders average 108.8 rushing yards per game, 15th in the NFL.Despite the high volume of yardage, points have come at a premium.Point totals of 13, 19, and 20 before the 45 point explosion versus the Browns.Derek Carr ranks fourth in yards passing with 1,373, 20th in touchdown passes with six, and fourth in completion percentage (71%).As good as the numbers look for Carr, a major reason for the Raiders three loses is Carr’s carelessness with the football.A stat no quarterback ever wants to lead the league in is interceptions.Derek Carr’s seven interceptions is tops in the league.Marshawn Lynch has quietly put together a great first quarter of the season.His 300 yards rushing ranks fourth in the league.He also has scored three touchdowns.Jared Cook, surprisingly ranks 10th in receiving yards with 370 yards on 26 receptions.Cook has benefited from Jon Gruden’s ability to call up plays that put Cook in favorable match ups.Defensively, the unit has shown flashes of great things but statistically they rank 5th in total yards given up with 1,610 (402.5 per game).They also give up the second most points in the league, 123 (30.8 per game).There’s no way around it the run defense has been bad, giving up 139.3 yards per game (3rd in NFL).With a nonexistent pass rush Womens Customized Oakland Raiders Jerseys , the secondary has been asked to do more.Unfortunately, they have not been able to answer the bell consistently enough.The 1,053 yards of passing given up ranks them 15th.The underlining issue is lack of pass rush.Without Mack, the defensive line does not have a player capable of demanding double teams or who teams need to game plan against.The Raiders have five sacks on the season, dead last in the NFL. One final glaring stat from the first quarter of the season is the turnover differential.The defense has only generated 5 takeaways, four came against the Browns.Derek Carr’s seven interceptions puts the Raiders at a negative two turnover differential (T-20th).Highlight of the first quarterThere are several plays to choose from but for me the highlight play from the first four games took place in the overtime win against the Browns.With 4:39 left to play in overtime, the Raiders on their own 26-yard line were faced with a critical 3rd and 3.Both teams had possessed the ball once, so it was next score wins.As he had been doing all game, Browns defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams dialed up a blitz.Derek Carr stood tall in the pocket knowing he was going to take a big hit.With pressure in his face, Carr delivered a beautiful ball to Jared Cook.As great as the throw was, Cook made an unbelievable catch as he was laying out full extension for the ball.Derek Carr took a brutal hit to the chest but got up and finished off the drive that would eventually end with a Matt McCrane game winning 29 yard field goal.What to expect in the next fourThe schedule looks fairly friendly in the next quarter of the season.In week five the Raiders will travel south to take on the Chargers.That should feel more like a home game.This game is especially important being a divisional game.Week 6, the Raiders make the trip over the pond to take on the Seattle Seahawks.Seattle certainly isn’t the franchise they once were.A lot depends in this game on how well the players adapt to the long travel and schedule adjustments they will face.Returning home from London, the Raiders have their bye week. After that they welcome in the Indianapolis Colts.Andrew Luck has looked pretty good in his return to the field, but this is still a roster that lacks talent.This is a very winnable game for the Raiders.In week 8, the Raiders will play their third game in four weeks in their home state of California when they head to Santa Clara to play the 49ers in primetime on Thursday night football.The 49ers two best players have been lost for the season with ACL tears, the Raiders will fully expect to win this one.