Oakland Raiders: Time to worry about Khalil Mack’s contract situation?

Oakland Raiders edge-rusher Khalil Mack won’t report to mandatory minicamp, which started Tuesday. Will we see a lengthy holdout?

First off, football players, whose careers could end on any given snap, should cash in whenever they have the chance. Oakland Raiders edge-rusher Khalil Mack has certainly earned a big payday. If he takes the field and severely tweaks something, guess what? The front office would re-evaluate his value. Get your money now.

Clearly, Mack has been advised to play hardball until he signs a new deal. Agents understand the business and so do the front offices. So, what’s it going to take to see No. 52 back on the practice field?

In April, NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Scott Bair estimated a rounded figure, a six-year, $120 million extension. Former sports agent and salary cap expert Joel Corry projects the following:

• Average per year: $23.5 million
• Overall guarantees: $85 million
• Fully guaranteed: $67.5 million
• Contract length: 6-year extension

There’s one near-certainty. Mack will become the highest-paid defensive player in the league when he inks a new deal. He’d top Denver Broncos edge-rusher Von Miller, who signed a six-year, $114 million extension with $70 million in guarantees two years ago.

According to NFL Network reporter Steve Wyche, Mack seeks a deal in excess of $65 million in guarantees. Last offseason, Oakland took care of quarterback Derek Carr and offensive guard Gabe Jackson. This year, it’s Mack’s turn:

What’s the Holdup?

For starters, the Raiders would become the first team to pay a quarterback $25 million and a non-quarterback $20-plus million per year simultaneously, per Corry’s report. McKenzie has earned well-deserved praise for his cap expertise, but the total cash put into two players requires extended planning.

Oakland must frame Mack’s deal in a way that doesn’t prevent them from keeping other high-quality talents in the future.

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If wideout Amari Cooper produces his best year, he’ll demand a lucrative extension in 2019. What would the team offer Rashaan Melvin if he plays the part of a No. 1 cover man, which helps solve the team’s perpetual cornerback issues? Does Oakland plan to re-sign defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr.?

In other words, it’s a balancing act. Oakland must secure an extraordinary talent in the present but leave enough wiggle room for future free-agent acquisitions and re-signings.

Secondly, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald also awaits a new deal. Yes, he plays a different position but delivers a similar impact to Mack as a pass-rusher on the interior. Both players have earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. The 27-year-old also won Defensive Rookie of the Year (2014) and has just one fewer sack than the Raiders edge-rusher through four campaigns.

Either Mack or Donald will become the highest-paid defensive player and whoever signs second would likely sign the bigger contract. Perhaps their agents are waiting for the other to strike a deal.

Finally, it’s not a stretch to think the coaching staff trusts Mack will stay in shape. Right now, they’re focusing on who’s present for organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. The front office signed defensive linemen Frostee Rucker and Ahtyba Rubin Monday, which indicates there’s still a focus on molding the roster.

Is it Time to Panic?

Mack isn’t the only mandatory minicamp holdout. Safety Earl Thomas, wide receiver Julio Jones, left tackle Taylor Lewan and Donald won’t report to practices either. They’re all seeking lucrative deals. It’s likely each player signs a new contract before training camp or in its early stages.

Look back at the previous year. Late June, the Raiders made Carr the highest-paid player. He didn’t hold out, but Oakland knew they wanted to put the contract situation behind them before training camp. Left tackle Donald Penn held out and waited until mid-September to sign a new deal.

For Mack, late July to early August seems like a reasonable window. The Raiders have secondary pass-rushers but none on his level. As a roster cornerstone and the most important player on the defense, it’s not a contract dispute to sit on for an extended period.

Keep in mind Mack would be subjected to $40,000 per day in fines for sitting out during training camp. However, ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio suggests these penalties are often excused once a player reports to the team. He’s going to rack up $84,435 in fines according to the Florio’s report.

Finally, Mack’s teammates will certainly pay close attention to how the front office handles its best defender. The Raiders should avoid distractions revolving around a star player.

Mack became the first player to earn All-Pro honors at two positions in the same season (2015). He’s single-handedly closed out games during the 2016 campaign. Watch the ending of the Carolina Panthers contest or the second-to-last drive for the Buffalo Bills that year. The Raiders need a strong pass rush as their secondary takes shape to maintain leads late in games.

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Ideally, it’s best to have Mack on the field as soon as possible, but a player of his caliber isn’t fighting for a roster spot. He’s not a quarterback who needs to build chemistry with receivers or an offensive line. His job focuses on keeping himself in shape and wreaking the one or two people on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to see this standoff extend midway through August at the latest, but there’s no reason to worry about Mack taking the field for the Silver and Black in Week 1. The Raiders will pay the man, he’s too valuable to stiff on financial compensation, but it’s going to happen on a delayed timeline.