The Los Angeles Rams finally managed to secure defensive tackle Aaron Donald for the long haul. Now all eyes are on the Oakland Raiders' situation with defensive end Khalil Mack.
There was hope that Donald's deal would give more clarity on a potential deal for Mack. However, ESPN Insider Adam Schefter said on NFL Live that the two sides are still nowhere close to a deal.
“That is not the case…. Jon Gruden and Khalil Mack have not spoken at all, in months, if ever, since Jon Gruden became the Oakland Raiders head coach… There has been no recent made in months. So the Raiders and Mack have made zero progress.”
Needless to say, the update from Schefter deals a blow to optimistic Raiders fans. There is no question that Donald and Mack are considered to be the NFL's premier pass-rushers. The expectation was that both of them were going to become the highest-paid defensive players in NFL history. Los Angeles managed to take care of its star player signing him to a six-year, $135 million deal. Unfortunately, it does not seem as though Oakland is prepared to do the same.
One of the biggest differences between this and Donald's situation is the communication between both sides. There have been plenty of rumors regarding the lack of conversation between Mack and head coach Jon Gruden.
While Gruden has refuted the reports, it is difficult to deny given the current state of their negotiations. As a result, there is speculation that they could be looking to deal their star player ahead of the 2018 NFL season. The Rams are poised to have their best defensive player ready for the season opener in Oakland. Unfortunately, it does not appear as though the Raiders will.
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