Oakland Raiders: Looking at the pros and cons of dealing Khalil Mack

Pro: Out of the AFC

This is one of those situations where you need to take the silver linings where you can find them. Yeah, admittedly, sometimes you have to bend, twist, contort, and turn yourself into a human pretzel harder than a Cirque du Soleil performer to find them, but if you look hard enough, they’re there.

And one thing you can say – though, it’s not likely to bring a lot of comfort – is that at least, Gruden and McKenzie had the good sense to trade him out of the AFC.

With teams like the Browns, Bills, and Jets reportedly clamoring to get their hands on Mack, it sent a cold chill down everybody’s spine. Having to square off against Mack – who would obviously have a very large chip on his shoulder – would have been the stuff nightmares are made of.

And can you imagine if it had been the Chiefs, Broncos, or Chargers who came calling with a trade package that included a couple of first-rounders? Can you imagine what it would have been like to have to square off against Mack twice a season?

If Mack had to be traded (though, there is still an argument to be made that he didn’t have to be), at the very least, we can take some small consolation in the fact that he’s playing in the NFC.

It’s not much, and it’s definitely not all that comforting, but at least he’s not going to be in the AFC for the foreseeable future. Sometimes, you have to take the silver linings – regardless of how minuscule – where you can find them.