ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Raiders won’t extend OLB Khalil Mack‘s contract this year and he’ll instead have to wait until 2018 for a new deal.
The Raiders have handed out big-money contracts to QB Derek Carr and G Gabe Jackson recently, so it would be tough to fit another contract into their current cap situation, especially considering that Mack could end up securing a massive deal when all is said and done.
This has been the plan all along and should come as a big surprise. Because Mack was a first-round pick, the Raiders have an additional year of contract and could always use their franchise tag on him in 2019 if needed.
Even so, it would be wise to do right by Mack, considering that he’s one of the game’s best young, defensive talents and should be a cornerstone for the Raiders for the foreseeable future.
Mack, 25, is a former first-round pick of the Raiders back in 2014. He was in the final year of his four-year, $18,677,002 contract and set to make a base salary of $690,000 to go along with a $2,276,865 roster bonus for the 2017 season when Oakland picked up his fifth-year option this past April.
In 2016, Mack appeared in all 16 games for the Raiders and recorded 73 tackles, 11 sacks, an interception returned for a touchdown, five forced fumbles, three recoveries and three pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 1 edge defender out of 105 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding an extension for Mack as the news is available.
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