Khalil Mack: 5 Logical trade destinations if he’s dealt in 2018

1. Green Bay Packers

This is the one that most people have been talking about, and it’s not hard to see why that’s the case. When you consider everything that would potentially need to go into a Khalil Mack trade, the Green Bay Packers check every box that a team needs to. Thus, they are clearly the most logical option for where the pass-rusher could ultimately land should he be traded.

For one, there’s the fit of how a deal would work. Currently, the Packers have Nick Perry and Clay Matthews slated to start as their edge rushers on defense. While those are two solid players, Mack is undeniably an upgrade over both of them. Perhaps more importantly, Matthews is 32 years old and has shown signs of decline as of late. Moreover, Matthews also offers a bit of versatility at linebacker, making Mack a natural, younger fit on the edge.

Then you have the front office and what they would need to make a trade happen. Draft capital? They’ve got it in the form of their own picks and, most importantly, the New Orleans Saints’ 2019 first-round pick, which they acquired in the Marcus Davenport trade in the 2018 draft. Moreover, they have a new general manager in Brian Gutekunst that has already proven willing to make a splash in ways Ted Thompson may not have been.

This seems like a natural match if a Mack trade is going to happen. Yes, there is the possibility that someone else has a higher pick to offer in a trade. But when you look at all that needs to happen and where the premier pass-rusher would fit most easily, Green Bay is the destination.