NFL Trade Rumors: Khalil Mack Deal Helped Kick Out Reggie McKenzie

The hardest part of a general manager’s job is pulling off deals and getting players to make a team competitive. The Oakland Raiders did have the trade involving Khalil Mack, and there is no word that it had a hand in the firing of now-former general manager Reggie McKenzie.

For the benefit of those who may be hearing about this for the first time, the said NFL trade was the one which went down last September. The 27-year-old linebacker was sent to the Chicago Bears in exchange or two first-round picks. Fast-forwarding a bit, the Bears wasted no time offering the linebacker a six-year deal worth $141 million – making him the highest paid defensive player in the league, The Guardian reported.

Several months later, a new twist has been revealed. According to the Athletic, it turns out that McKenzie was opposed to the deal – something that is believed to be part of the reason for his dismissal.

Further, Raiders coach Jon Gruden and team owner Mark Davis felt they could have gotten more than a pair of picks – seeing as how the Raiders were desperate to get the star rusher. Oakland did have other options since other teams were interested in Mack.

According to NBC Sports, the New York Jets and the San Francisco 49ers were two other teams who made offers. The Jet offered a couple of picks and were willing to go higher, meaning the Raiders could have gotten more. There was no mention of what the 49ers had offered.

Ironically, it seems a bit odd to pin the blame entirely on McKenzie since the coaches do have a say on the matter. Add to the fact that Gruden also has his own final say in personnel decisions and the plot all the more thickens.

So perhaps the better question to ask is, was McKenzie really fired or did he leave on his own? Forbes singled out some interesting facts, one of which was Gruden having a say in personnel movement.

In the report, the decision to fire McKenzie was reportedly made by Davis. But Davis is on the record as saying Gruden runs the football side of the organization. So what is the truth?

It is likely that McKenzie went to see Davis himself and asked if reports swirling are true that he would be fired after the season. The team owner likely confirmed it, and McKenzie saved them the trouble and left on his own terms. But now, different versions and plots are coming out, sparking the finger-pointing conspiracy to save face.