Report: Khalil Mack Holdout “Mystifying To Many In The Organization”

Last week, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur said be thinks the Raiders and Khalil Mack will eventually agree on a new deal. That was nice to hear considering it was about the only positive report (or educated guess) on Mack that anyone has witnessed in about a month.

But Tuesday morning was more about getting back to the trending concern about Mack’s holdout – some of which seems to be spreading around the Raiders building, according to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez:

“[Khalil Mack’s] holdout, which reached 10 days on Monday, is mystifying to many in the organization. Now, would it be smart for Oakland to trade the face of its defense as it begins a rebuild under Jon Gruden? Probably not, but as Gruden himself recently told NFL Network, the Raiders’ defense was not that good in 2017 with Mack. Ouch. GM Reggie McKenzie (jokingly?) asked me at the NFL owners meetings in March if I had an extra $100 million to help him pay Mack. And if a team flashed a first-round pick at Oakland for the services of Mack, who wants an extension beyond the almost $13.5 million he is scheduled to make this season under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract and the two franchise tags that could await him in 2019 and 2020, the Raiders would be silly to not at least listen.”

The question is, what exactly is mystifying about Mack’s holdout? Is it the fact that the Raiders aren’t extending him or the fact that he hasn’t shown up on his fifth-year option? Whatever the case, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of progress between Mack and the Raiders and if the sides are waiting to see what happens with Aaron Donald, the impasse might be only getting started.

And here’s another thought. If the Raiders aren’t willing to pay Khalil Mack, what’s going to happen down the road with Amari Cooper’s expiring contract – especially if Cooper has a breakout season and commands a top salary? Remember, Cooper shares an agent with Mack, so we should probably be prepared for another offseason merry-go-round in 2019.

Fun, isn’t it?

twitter: @raidersbeat

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11 thoughts on “Report: Khalil Mack Holdout “Mystifying To Many In The Organization”

    1. Trading him would be the stupidest thing for the franchise! What’s the point of trading him? What for more picks? So we can hope and pray we get lucky and get another Mack type talent? Mack is a once in a generation type player in his prime, you don’t trade players like that! Pay the man his worth pure and simple! You pay gruden 100 million for a coach! You better pay the man who actually is gonna play on the **** field! Justwinbaby!

    2. The truth is the Raiders can afford Mack, but that would also mean they would be far more restricted under the salary cap. In other words the only way they could stay competitive is if Gruden develops and gets the most out of draft picks while they are on their rookie contracts.

      Some upper level and core players will end up getting away, happens to every team. But keeping the core of Mack, Carr, the OL, Coop (who won’t command top dollar bc he isn’t a dominant receiver), and Conley will be priority… I know, Conley hasn’t proven anything yet, but he will, and he’s going to be elite.

      Other candidates to break out and join that core are Kujo, Key, Hurst, and M Lee, who could very well be the answer at ILB for the Raiders.

      There’s a balance of knowing which players production is replaceable by rookies or free agents and which ones aren’t, while staying under the cap. Mack is not replaceable. Regardless of what Gruden said, Raiders are not trading Mack. Even Mark wouldn’t be okay with Gruden dealing their best player away.

  1. So sick of playing this waiting game.
    I would like be to see Mack report to camp, so the discussion for a new contract can at least progress somewhere.
    At this point I’d even be okay with trading him. Don’t get me wrong, I love Mack, but at the end of the day, there is only so much money to go around. Mack can’t do it by himeself, as we’ve seen over the past four years, so if he wants too much money, we can’t afford to build around him with nothing left.
    Gotta be some give and take.
    Please get this resolved Raiders!!!

    1. You love Mack but you would be ok with trading him???? I would hate to see what you would do with a Raider you didn’t like! Mack is a true raider, the cornerstone of the defense, You draft well and put good players around your cornerstones! All you out there saying trade Mack are idiots!

  2. Sports writers are desperate for a story here. Need to justify those paychecks. Mack is under contract and after this year there is the franchise tag. The Raiders dont have to do anything. Mack is a plug and play guy who will be in Silver and Black when the season starts.

    1. Please put a cap on all positions, either you want to play football or you don’t. Tired of all the GREED!!!!!!!

  3. Please put a cap on all positions, either you want to play football or you don’t. Stop with all the greed!!!!!.

  4. Scenario that makes sense based on everything that’s been reported: Mack was offered a deal that would make him the highest paid defensive player ever and he turned it down. Reggie hasnt called back because that offer is on the table and there is no reason to increase it at this point.

  5. The truth is the Raiders can afford Mack, but that would also mean they would be far more restricted under the salary cap. In other words the only way they could stay competitive is if Gruden develops and gets the most out of draft picks while they are on their rookie contracts.

    Some upper level and core players will end up getting away, happens to every team. But keeping the core of Mack, Carr, the OL, Coop (who won’t command top dollar bc he isn’t a dominant receiver), and Conley will be priority… I know, Conley hasn’t proven anything yet, but he will, and he’s going to be elite.

    Other candidates to break out and join that core are Kujo, Key, Hurst, and M Lee, who could very well be the answer at ILB for the Raiders.

    There’s a balance of knowing which players production is replaceable by rookies or free agents and which ones aren’t, while staying under the cap. Mack is not replaceable. Regardless of what Gruden said, Raiders are not trading Mack. Even Mark wouldn’t be okay with Gruden dealing their best player away.

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