Trades involving big names in the NFL are commonplace nowadays, but that wasn’t always the case. Times have changed in that regard, and ironically enough, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels was a huge beneficiary of such a deal. On the other hand, Raider Nation still vividly remembers being on the other end of a “blockbuster” trade involving Khalil Mack.
A Not-So-Happy Anniversary For Raiders Fans
Who was on the winning end of Mack’s departure is a subject of heated debate to this day. Much of the draft capital the Raiders acquired for Mack was for naught. Still, Mack, an L.A. Charger these days, saw his tenure with the Chicago Bears come and go without much ado. It’s a harsh way to look at things, but you could certainly argue that the only real losers from that trade were the fans.
However, Mack’s trade did remind us of how blockbuster trades can swiftly change the landscape of a franchise. In their first year in Las Vegas, McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler hit a grand slam by acquiring Davante Adams via trade.
While the jury is still out on who won that deal, such monumental maneuvers are more commonplace in the modern NFL. McDaniels himself weighed in on that matter recently (h/t Erin Walsh via Bleacher Report).
“There are a lot of general managers who are eager. There are a lot of general managers who, maybe, are willing to go ahead and part with some capital to go ahead and bring a really premier player, whatever the position it might be, to their organization, and so, I think, to me, more than anything else, I think there’s a little bit more of a willingness to explore it and then go ahead and follow through with it. I’m sure that a long time ago there were conversations, but there was also probably a little hesitancy to do something like that.”
Who won the Khalil Mack trade? Does it even matter now?
On September 1st, five years ago, the Raiders acquired multiple draft picks, two of which were first-rounders. Meanwhile, the Bears obtained one of the best players in the league at the time. Before the Mack trade, such earth-shattering moves were rare. However, things have changed drastically in recent years. Blockbuster trades are a frequent occurrence in other pro sports leagues, but the NFL has been, for the most part, excluded from this.
The question moving forward is whether it’s good for the product. From a fan’s perspective, it’s a 50/50 prospect. Raider Nation was elated to know that DA17 would don the legendary Silver and Black jersey. By the same token, they weren’t close to happy when Mack was shipped off. Regardless, it’s interesting to note the changing tide, so to speak, as McDaniels pointed out.
Exploring such deals is the norm now, and as we’ve seen, Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler aren’t afraid of pulling the trigger either. Davante Adams, Darren Waller, etc.—you get the idea.
*Top Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press
