I know the Khalil Mack trade still stings. But Oakland did get some value in the deal. Two first-round picks are a big deal. Of course, the bad part is Oakland didn’t get any value for this season and losing Mack will hurt. But come draft season, Oakland will have some clout. I currently expect
Next April will be fun for Raiders
I prefer not trading up and drafting a safety and a WR.
So we trade Mack and you are suggesting we use a great deal of those trade picks to move up in the draft in the hope that we find another Mack? I’d rather use the 2 picks to try improve our roster.
Sorry for suggesting going after a player with superstar potential. How silly of me.
I root for the Denver Nuggets. Years ago the GM made an off hand remark, prior to the season’s start, that due to their antipated cap space, it was going to be “a fun summer.” In the subsequent years, “a fun summer” has come to mean a “shit season.”
When you wrote “April will be fun,” Bill, you tweaked my P.T.S.D.
We had the opportunity to get Minkah Fitzpatrick this year. A guy who can play each and every position in the secondary. All of them at a high level.
We had a shot at several players ranked higher than Miller.
I hope Gruden is right and Miller becomes the LT we need for the next decade plus.
If Miller does become a top LT, what happens when he needs a contract. Guessing about second contracts is going to be a concern from here on out due to the debacle with Mack.
There is no guarantee a draftable player works out. Not first round picks, not undrafted free agents.
We know what Mack was and what he is. Draft picks are gambles. Would you rather gamble on a draft pick or Mack?
I am from Hayward but currently living in Alabama – it frustrates me so much that we passed on Minkah. I may be biased based on local coverage, but holy crap all that guy does is ball out.
Agreed.
Here in South Carolina we get plenty of SEC coverage.
I watch these guys on the field from day one. There was just something different about Minkah.
Always around the ball, making plays and playing hurt when needed. A special teams nightmare too.
But even with him, its no guarantee he will be a great pro.
He has the talent to be the next C Wood though.
So Raiders would parlay the picks to draft another edge rusher in the 1-3 draft range? We already had Mack (smack my head)! That’s the problem. By trading Mack, Raiders will likely have a need for another edge rusher.
Around and around we go….
The problem is that Gruden and possibly McKenzie if he isn’t fired or doesn’t quit will be the ones making those trades or draft choices. Say what you will about McKenzie’s draft record but Gruden hasn’t done any better and perhaps it can be argued has done worse. The Bryant trade earlier this year counts more against Gruden than McKenzie in my opinion and they didn’t get nearly enough value from the Cardinals when they dropped down in this year’s draft.
So while I agree with the premise of the article, it still worries me if all those assets are controlled by Beavis and Butt-head.
Chuckie want a team full of HIS guys, not Reggie guys or Del Rio guys or Norton guys.
After seeing the shit-hole roster Reggie gave him, he wanted a deep purge.
Other than Mack of course, he kept the real OG veteran studs that every coach wants, like Irvin, Penn, Lynch, Lee Smith, Jordy Nelson and even Reggie Nelson. And then he looked for as many role playing free-agent stud vets he could find for cheap on short deals.
Next year could be just as crazy. Cooper’s contract and some very expensive O-Line players to think about.
And Bill, the theory you mentioned on Raider bites about Gruden not wanting to win with someone else’s team, I don’t buy it. If the team was good when he got there, he would have been stoked. But then he showed up and had no choice after puking when he saw Marquette King and Obi and Edwards Jr and Cory James and Jihad Ward and Walford and Sharpe and that oaf Connor Cook.
Maybe you can answer this question on Raider Bites tomorrow: What’s the over/under on how long it takes for Reggie to be fired or “pursue other opportunities and spend more time with his family”?
U don;t neccesarily by it either, but thought it was worth discussing with you guys.
This year’s draft was light on offensive talent and heavy on the defensive side. Yet, the Raiders first pick was a tackle!!! Not sure I share your optimism, Bill. Also, wasn’t the rebuild supposed to be almost complete? Seems Gruden is trading down and rebuilding again.