New York Jets: Gang Green didn’t lose by not landng Khalil Mack

The New York Jets didn’t lose when the Chicago Bears acquired Khalil Mack. It just wasn’t the big coup that Gang Green could’ve had.

When assessing things like sports trades in life, there has to be winners and losers, right? What if a team didn’t win or lose in a trade? That’s the case for the New York Jets.

Many Jets fans desperately wanted Khalil Mack. Unfortunately for those fans, Mack will be in a Bears uniform in 2018 and likely for years to come. So, the natural inclination is that the Jets lost, because they didn’t get the big prize. That’s not necessarily the case.

It would’ve cost the Jets a lot to land the talents of Mack. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, it cost the Bears more than the reported two first round picks — not including the contract they will have to pay him.

If that’s the case, then the Jets didn’t lose. They just didn’t have enough to win. Sure, Mack changes the defense and makes it more formidable, but what did the Jets actually lose?

The Jets didn’t land the premier edge rusher in the game today. Does that mean all is lost? Absolutely not. The Jets defense would’ve made an upgrade with Mack. However, it wouldn’t have been an upgrade to the level like the Denver Broncos when they won the Super Bowl.

Everyone talks about the edge rusher like you need a premier one to succeed. What the Jets need to do is take a page from the New England Patriots and play good situational defense where they don’t have to rely on the one edge presence.

It’s not about one guy racking up the sacks or putting pressure on the quarterback. It’s about the team. In the end, it would’ve been a huge win for the Jets, but not landing him isn’t a loss, though.