The Los Angeles Rams notched their first win on Monday Night Football, beating the Oakland Raiders 33-13. The Raiders defensive front had issues and sorely missed recently traded pass-rusher Khalil Mack whom they dealt to the Chicago Bears for a couple draft picks.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Rams were trying to get Mack as well and then trade him at the end of the season to recoup the draft picks.
Several teams were interested in Mack’s services, the San Francisco 49ers included. It was obvious securing Mack wouldn’t be cheap in draft capitol and would get worse when contract numbers got discussed. The Rams still have players like Jared Goff to extend, which at least makes the thinking process understandable, but still crazy.
It was already known the Rams tried to trade for Mack. The Raiders declined a trade offer from the Rams due to fears the Rams would, “pick too low.” IE; the Rams would have a good season and the first rounders the Raiders no doubt would have received would be used in the tail end of the round.
The Rams have been spending money like crazy in anticipation of 2018. They extended Todd Gurley, traded for Brandin Cooks, and backed up the Brinks truck for Aaron Donald. Adding Mack into the mix, along with that contract he received from the Bears, easily could have put the Rams into future salary cap struggles. This might have been the only way to get him.
So all of that for a one-year rental. And it’s quite an assumption the Rams could get their picks back on the huge contract they’d no doubt sign him to. They probably could, but it’s still a risk. The Rams already traded draft picks for Cooks and would be risking more of their future for Mack. Failure to get their investment back would hurt their future. On the other hand, if that trade went through and the Rams got Mack, only with the intention to trade him after 2018, this could have been the most expensive Super Bowl all-in ever seen.
In any case, the Rams clearly lost this battle in the arms race. If Monday night is any indication, they definitely could have used Mack. The Rams, with Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald on the same line managed just one sack against the Raiders. Who knows what the addition of Mack could have brought.
It’s good for 49ers fans at the very least.