Jets Interested in Linebacker Khalil Mack of the Raiders

Count the New York Jets as one of many teams that are interested in Raiders All Pro Khalil Mack, should he become available of course. 

The news comes from Daily News reporter Manish Mehta that Gang Green has reached out to the Raiders about Mack's availability. Mehta says the Jets have not made an offer as of yet. 

Mack and the Raiders are stuck in an intense contract battle. Making $13.5 million this year, the final year of his rookie contract, Mack wants to be the highest paid defensive player in the league. The Raiders aren't bitting on his demands, leading to a bitter hold out that has lasted all of training camp. 

The Raiders are shopping him, one of the other interested teams in his services is the Green Bay Packers. 

Of course should Mack get dealt, whichever team acquires him would want to work out a sign and trade. With a Mack set to hit free agency next March, nobody wants to give up a ton of draft picks to the Raiders without knowing they'll have Mack for multiple seasons. 

The Jets have about $17 million in cap space this year, and have a friendly cap number in 2019 to make a sign and trade happen, should they want to. 

If the Jets go all in for Mack, and if the Raiders are indeed content with trading their best defensive player, the Jets will have to accept giving up multiple first and second round picks, maybe even a player for him. It will be costly for the Jets. 

The only way it would be worth it, is if the Jets can sign Mack to a contract, and he continues to produce Pro Bowl caliber seasons the way he did in Oakland. 

The Jets desperately need pass rush help. They have ignored the need the past two off-seasons. There is a train of thought that the Jets would target pass rusher, offensive line and running back next off-season in free agency and the draft, but there seems to be added pressure on this regime to win this season. 

Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan have produced back-to-back 5-11 seasons. They need to turn this around fast. Another season of 5-11 or worse and neither one will be here come January. Hence the mad rush to get rookie quarterback Sam Darnold under center for Week 1, when letting him watch the opening weeks of the season would be the wisest move. 

Adding Mack, who own 40-1/2 sacks in his career would be a boon to a franchise that has not had a legit edge rusher since John Abraham was in town in the early 2000's. 

The pressure is squarely on the Jets because they feel it is on them. They could wait  till Mack hits the market in March, but they apparently are not willing to wait for a better tomorrow, if they can have it now.