The Khalil Mack trade is something the Chicago Bears never thought was possible. That is until Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden opened the door. Not only did they get one of the three best defensive players in football, GM Ryan Pace also managed to squeeze something else out of the deal. Something many critics thought was impossible. That being the Raiders’ 2nd round pick in 2020.
It may seem like not much to some, but it could mean everything the way things are going in Oakland of late. Remember that Pace has secured some really good football players in the 2nd round. Eddie Goldman and Cody Whitehair already received lucrative and well-deserved contract extensions. James Daniels and Anthony Miller look more than capable of doing the same a few years from now.
So there’s a reason to think this pick could be put to great use. Especially if it ends up being on the higher end of the round next April. Based on what’s happening with the Raiders, it’s becoming hard not to see them struggling a lot in 2019. All of it thanks to the actions of one man: Antonio Brown.
Everybody who follows the NFL has heard about the controversies. First, it was the frostbite issue on his feet in a training accident. Then it was filing suits against the league for not being allowed to wear his old helmet. Incredibly, all of that was a preamble because on Thursday he nearly got into a fistfight with GM Mike Mayock according to multiple insiders.
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Antonio Brown is setting up Chicago Bears offseason well
While one must feel bad for Raider fans over this incredible string of nonsense, the Bears probably have different feelings. They’ve already stolen a superstar from them. Then a starting kicker (Eddy Pineiro). Now it’s becoming clearer every day that they may end up holding a highly valuable draft pick that never should’ve been part of the trade in the first place. All because Oakland can’t seem to get out of their own way.
There’s now even talk that the team may look to suspend him and thus void a $30 million guarantee in his contract. Something that is almost certain to irreparably burn bridges between the two sides.
Oakland signed Brown with the express hope that he could ease the pressure on quarterback Derek Carr. This situation creates a ton of problems for the offense. To say nothing of the endless distractions. It is hard enough to win in the NFL without such issues. It’s nearly impossible with them. Combine that with playing in a loaded division? There is no way one could argue this team will be that much better than they were last season.
