Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack has been widely mentioned in trade rumors, and the Green Bay Packers have emerged as the betting favorites to land the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year.
MyBookie (h/t Scott Venci of the Green Bay Press-Gazette), gives the Packers strong 3-to-1 odds to trade for the three-time Pro Bowler. Mack has held out as he continues to seek a long-term contract. The 27-year-old will make $13.85 million in 2018, the final season of his rookie contract.
Mack would undoubtedly be an excellent fit on a Packers team that was among the most active in free agency this offseason. They signed Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham to give Aaron Rodgers a legitimate red zone threat, plus star defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson to boast a weak defense from last season.
Mack earned a 90.2 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2017, finishing with 10.5 sacks and three passes defended in what was otherwise an extremely forgetful season in Oakland. With new head coach Jon Gruden in the fold, Mack will either have to adapt to his strict and hands-on style, or else continue to hold out in hopes of orchestrating a trade.
Speaking with Venci, MyBookie sports analyst Dave Strauss explained that the Packers are the betting favorites for Mack because of their assets (two first-round picks in 2019), while noting "they love a strong defense at Lambeau."
The Packers are in win-now mode while the 34-year-old Rodgers is in his prime. Their Super Bowl 45 championship was supposed to be one of many under the two-time MVP, but the defense has played incredibly poorly in the postseason.
Adding Mack to a defense that already includes Wilkerson and Clay Matthews would really scare the rest of the NFC. Green Bay will be in a tough race with the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC North division, so perhaps the front office will see that as an incentive to trade for Mack.
Stay tuned.