NFL Trade Rumors: Rams Made Aggressive Offer To Raiders Before Oakland Completed Deal With Bears

The Chicago Bears made the biggest splash of the preseason by acquiring Khalil Mack from the Oakland Raiders. Several teams reportedly attempted to trade for the superstar, including Oakland’s Week 1 opponent.

Los Angeles Rams executive vice president Kevin Demoff said the organization inquired about landing Mack, according to Gary Kelin of the Los Angeles Times. Without specifically laying out what L.A. offered, Demoff admitted that Oakland believed at least one of Los Angeles’ draft picks that the Raiders would've received in a potential deal wouldn’t be very high.

“We offered a pretty aggressive package and they came back and said, ‘We just think you’re going to pick too low,’ ” Demoff said.

Oakland received two first-round picks, a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick in exchange for Mack. The Raiders also sent the Bears a second rounder in the deal.

After acquiring Mack, Chicago is still only considered to be a fringe playoff contender. The 2019 draft pick that they sent to Oakland could very well be in the top 20, or possibly in the top 15.

Los Angeles had the No.23 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft after going 11-5 and winning the NFC West. They are supposed to be even better this season, and no team in the conference has better Super Bowl odds before Week 1. If the Rams sent the Raiders two first-rounders, it’s possible that neither selection would land in the top 25.

Acquiring Mack would have required a major financial commitment from the Rams’ front office. Los Angeles made defensive tackle Aaron Donald the highest-paid defensive player in history last week by giving him a six-year, $135 million contract. Mack broke that record just a few days later when Chicago gave him a deal worth $141 million, and the Rams likely would’ve had to offer him a similar contract in order for the three-time Pro Bowler to end his holdout.

The Rams are arguably the most talented team in the NFC. Adding Mack might’ve made it indisputable.

Mack was named the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and Donald won the award last season. Los Angeles add both Marcus Peters and Ndamukong Suh to their defense, and both players are just a year removed from Pro Bowl seasons.

Todd Gurley won the 2017 Offensive Player of the Year award. The Rams traded their first-round pick for Brandin Cooks, who has totaled more than 1,000 receiving yards in three straight seasons. Jared Goff looked every bit like a former No.1 draft pick last season when he made the Pro Bowl as a 23-year-old.

L.A. is trying to win the Super Bowl, and they are sparing no expense. Before giving Donald a reported $87 million guaranteed, the Rams reportedly gave Cooks more than $50 million guaranteed. Gurley agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension in the offseason.

The Raiders, on the other hand, traded their best player because they were unwilling to pay him. It was partly the result of giving Derek Carr a five-year, $125 million contract a year ago. Goff is still on his rookie contract and set to make around $16.5 million over the next two years.

Oakland has $17.5 million in available salary cap space, according to Spotrac. Only five teams have more money to spend than Los Angeles' $4.2 million in remaining cap space.

Los Angeles is a 4.5-point road favorite against Oakland in the season opener.