If Khalil Mack and the Raiders follow the same timeline that led to Derek Carr’s contract extension a year ago, a new deal for Mack would come together later this month.
Everyone expects a new deal to happen, but what if the Raiders balk at the risk of committing to another record-breaking contract?
After all, if Mack gets his expected value, the Raiders would be the first team to commit $25 million per-year to a quarterback and $20 million per-year to a non-quarterback on the same roster.
Mack does have a little leverage, but if he’s looking for a six-year, $120 million deal with $75 million guaranteed, the Raiders have to be entertaining the idea of taking things a year at a time.
Hear me out here.. Give Mack a 5 year, Von Miller type contract worth over 100 mil plus or tag him for 2 years at the DE price which takes him to 29 years old??
— Eddie Borsilli (@Borsilli) May 31, 2018
Mack is getting $13.8 million this year and the Raiders could apply the franchise tag to him each of the next two years.
The 2017 franchise tag for a defensive end cost $17.1 million and as long as the next two years stay under $20 million, it doesn’t take a math wizard to understand the Raiders could get away with paying Mack around $55 million over the next three years by taking things a year at a time.
The Raiders could then sit down and negotiate a deal with Mack when he’s 29.
Considering how underpaid Mack has been in his four years with the Raiders, it would be a lousy reward for Khalil to be dragged along for three more years, but financially it would make some sense for the Raiders.
With that in mind, there would be two advantages for the Raiders to sign Mack long term. 1) The bonus money would keep his cap numbers a bit more manageable and 2) they would avoid the yearly drama that comes with not paying a star player. Khalil could also get fed up and hold out at some point – and who would blame him?
But considering the model citizen and locker room leader that Mack has been since being drafted by the Raiders, there’s no question he deserves to be rewarded with a long-term deal.
If Mark Davis was willing to hand Jack Del Rio a new deal when JDR had no leverage whatsoever, he’ll surely want to do the same for arguably the best defensive player in the league. But from a strictly business standpoint, there’s a case to be made that he shouldn’t.
With that said… just pay the man already and lets move along.
twitter: @raidersbeat
I don’t understand this extension stuff, if he is signed thru 2018 why is there even talk about a contract until after 2028 season is over. Is he having money problems now? I find it hard to believe a man can’t get by on nearly 14 million a year. Raiders don’t have the money to make him happy and sign a guy like Kendricks. There was really no need in giving Carr all that money now, they could have waited another year and had more money now to sign other players. Why worry about what they might cost them later? Hell they might not even be here later. Carr hasn’t even played a full season the last two years. Mack needs to get in there with his teammates and show them what he is all about. We have a lot of new players on the team that he needs to mingle with and show his loyalty to the Raiders, not hold out. “GO RAIDERS”
proof read jack ***
I wish you would just keep your thoughts to yourself. Any one can make a typo. Not necessary to call a person a jack *** just because you had a hard time figuring out want I meant. I feel sorry for you being so perfect.
I agree it is bad business for players to hold out due to contract disputes. It creates too much drama and distracts from the new rookies in the practice field. Come on management let’s get on the same page and sign the man for what he is worth and get him out there to work with the new players. Mack you could be doing your part by practicing on the field while your contract is being negotiated. The conduct of everyone will determine who the winners really are.
It’s all about injury, if he went into camp and got injured severely he’d be screwed, so he’s looking for financial security for the future (guaranteed cash), he has nothing guaranteed right now so if he did get hurt he’s damaged goods and it would be hard to continue his career, so if he gets his contract signed he has alittle piece of mind & future security and reward the Raiders with great play, you play a lot better when your comfortable,
It’s all about injury, if he went into camp and got injured severely he’d be screwed, so he’s looking for financial security for the future (guaranteed cash), he has nothing guaranteed right now so if he did get hurt he’s damaged goods and it would be hard to continue his career, so if he gets his contract signed he has alittle piece of mind & future security and reward the Raiders with great play, you play a lot better when your comfortable,
Agreed but at the same time he is still on the payroll making 14 mil a year. That means get your *** out there and practice.
Mack is arguably the best player on the Raiders roster and deserves to be paid as such just as any other business would pay their best employees. That being said I am not a fan of hold outs and believe a player under contract should fulfill their obligations to the team. Show up, do your job to the best of your ability, and let your agent (who you pay to negotiate) do their job. Be loyal to the team which is depending on you that is how you show class and build a winning attitude. Just look at the successful teams. They don’t have holdouts which take away valuable training time. Yes you can train on your own but the loss comes from not training as a team. I believe Mack should get a big contract but for now he needs to show up and earn the contract.
I 100% agree. Show up….do your job…honor your contract and most importantly learn the new system with your team mates.
Whoever wrote this piexe is a complete idiot.
Mack is a gift and blessing to our Franchise. Lock him up. Take care of Mack and lets Do the right thing.
Everything else will fall into place. Not every franchose has a chance to have the face of the franchise on both sides of the ball.
Are you sure that the Raiders are not trying to sign Khalil Mack? If I was Mack, I would hold off till Donald gets signed and request more than Donald.
The salary cap isn’t going to keep rising forever. Mack isn’t worth $20 million a year in 2018 dollars. String him along. Mack can buy injury insurance if he’s not already wealthy enough to retire a his current age.