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Baltimore Ravens: Exploring the Raiders “shopping Khalil Mack”

By Richard Bradshaw

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders reacts after he sacked Josh McCown #15 of the New York Jets at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders reacts after he sacked Josh McCown #15 of the New York Jets at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 13: Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders looks on during the second half of their NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at O.co Coliseum on September 13, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 13: Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders looks on during the second half of their NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at O.co Coliseum on September 13, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Bottom line:

Trading for and then signing Khalil Mack long-term is a franchise altering decision. For better or for worse, landing the premier edge rusher comes at a steep price. But at the end of the day, if I were in charge of the Baltimore Ravens, I’d do whatever it takes to secure Khalil Mack.

Mack’s upside is that of a Hall of Fame talent, and all-time status as one of the greatest Baltimore Ravens to ever don purple and black. Mack also opens a Super Bowl window for this defense and is still young enough to be a franchise cornerstone for 5-6 more years.

Sure, turnover on defense will occur, but the Ravens are in need of an infusion of talent and there’s simply no better answer for this than Khalil Mack. Signing both Mack and C.J. Mosley long-term isn’t completely unrealistic. Is it going to be difficult to do? Absolutely. However, this front-office can maneuver around the ever increasing salary cap and make room for two of the NFL’s premier defensive stars.

If Mack truly is up for sale, the Ravens need to be consistent callers for trade talks. Acquiring a player like Mack would be invaluable to the team as a whole. But if the Ravens do trade for and sign Mack long-term, he better start looking for a new jersey number, because #52 is sacred in Baltimore.

Next. Baltimore Ravens: Winning always feels good, even in the preseason. dark

#58 has been worn by some of the best pass rushers in Ravens history; guys like Peter Boulware and Elvis Dumervil immediately come to mind. Go ahead and generate yourself a custom Baltimore Ravens #58 Khalil Mack jersey, it looks pretty dang good.

At the end of the day, it is so unlikely that Baltimore would go through all this trouble for one player. But if there was a player to do all of this for, it is without a doubt Khalil Mack.

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