Oakland Raiders Should Not Sacrifice The Future By Trading For Mo Wilkerson

The Oakland Raiders are in the early stages of a renaissance, but trading for Mo Wilkerson as Jason La Canfora suggests, could potentially sacrifice the future.

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And given the way the market for premier pass rushers has gone, it very well may be too rich for McKenzie’s blood. Rightly so. What, with the megadeals signed by Malik Jackson ($85.5 million – $42 million guaranteed), Olivier Vernon ($85 million – $52.5 million guaranteed), the market for premier pass rushers has gone through the stratosphere, and Wilkerson, no slouch of a pass rusher himself, is likely looking to land a deal within that Jackson-Vernon range.

Had it been earlier in free agency, perhaps making a trade for Wilkerson would have made sense – and perhaps been a bit more feasible. But having signed Bruce Irvin and Sean Smith to pretty lucrative deals, the Raiders defense is in far better shape today than it was at any point last season. They finally have a ferocious pass rusher to bookend with Khalil Mack and they finally have a cornerback who can help lock down one side of the field to pair with David Amerson.

And let’s not forget that there is every likelihood that Aldon Smith, when he’s eligble to return to the league in November, will be doing so in a Silver and Black jersey.

A front seven that includes Mack, Irvin, Justin Ellis, Dan Williams, Smith, and if he’s healthy and ready to go, Mario Edwards Jr., is pretty fearsome as it is. Throw in Neiron Ball, Ben Heeney, Denico Autry, and if they match Dallas’ offer sheet, Benson Mayowa, and you have a seriously formidable defensive front.

Would adding Wilkerson make it that much more fearsome? Yeah, absolutely. Wilkerson is a beast. Adding him would most assuredly make this an elite-level defense. But you know what? This very well may be an elite-level defense without him.

Though La Canfora, in his Wilkerson-to-the-Raiders delirium, is seemingly already predicting the downfall of a couple of key additions – which of course, would free up the cap space to sign Wilkerson to a mammoth deal. Per La Confora’s article:

"“But, I’d also note, that if Irvin does not work out — he’s had off field issues before — that deal could be for as little as one season (at $12.5 million). And if Smith’s play slips and or if he suffers off-field issues again (he was suspended for four games in Kansas City last year), well, that deal could be as little as one year, $11 million. Yes, the true guarantees at the time of signing for both players equals $23.5 million, and they can be out of both after one season if need be. And McKenzie’s patience resulted in him getting Penn at a bargain price as well.”"

That’s a whole lot of “if’s” and “maybe’s,” isn’t it? To the cynical eye, it almost reads as if La Canfora is rooting for the Irvin and Smith deals to not work out. Otherwise, why even bring up Irvin and Smith’s off the field issues or bother speculating about their play slipping? Shouldn’t we at least see them take a snap or two in a Raiders jersey before predicting their downfall?

Also, let’s not forget that McKenzie not only has to earmark money for his incoming draft class – a class which very well may include another pass rusher – but also for some hefty contracts on the horizon.

Given their importance to the franchise and its rebirth, it seems highly unlikely that McKenzie is going to let cornerstone pieces like Derek Carr, Khalil Mack, Gabe Jackson, Justin Ellis, Amari Cooper, and D.J. Hayden – okay, just kidding, scratch Hayden off that list – walk away after their rookie contracts are up. And given the market as well as their unique talents – and again, their aforementioned importance to the franchise – those are going to be some meaty contracts the likes of which the Raiders have never paid out before. It’s going to cost a ton to keep them all.

Which makes paying Wilkerson the extravagant sum of money he’s looking for a non-starter. Because not only will the Raiders need to pay their cornerstone guys, they’re going to need to have enough money left over to pay a strong supporting cast as well. At least, if they plan on staying in contention — which given all indications, they plan on doing.

La Canfora goes on to make his case – such as it is – by speculating about the possiblity of the Raiders moving to LA. Per La Canfora’s article:

"“…and the fact is if the Chargers pass on moving to Los Angeles with the Rams, well, Davis will have his team there in nanoseconds; if you are going to L.A., you’d better be ready to win and win people over and have ample star power.”"

Derek Carr? Khalil Mack? Amari Cooper? Sounds like the Raiders are already doing okay in the star power department. Not only that, but perhaps La Canfora hasn’t spent much time in LA, but the Raiders already have a very large and very vibrant fan base. Given that the Raiders have a very good roster, a number of players who are stars in the making, are a team that is very much on the rise, and still have a very strong following in LA, the presence of Mo Wilkerson isn’t going to make or break season ticket sales in the City of Angels should they move there.

Next: Dallas Cowboys Trying To Poach A Pass Rusher

Which is precisely why Stan Kroenke doesn’t want the Raiders in LA – he knows the Silver and Black, even in a down year, will outdraw his Rams. By far.

The Raiders are very much headed in the right direction. The vision and blueprint laid out by McKenzie is working to perfection and they are a team on the rise. They should contend for an AFC West crown this year. While having a player of Wilkerson’s caliber would certainly elevate the defense, it’s not worth the cost down the road to this team. Not when things are progressing as well as they are.

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