Taxes Could Influence Mack Talks
Could taxes play a big role in Khalil Mack‘s approach to negotiations with the Raiders? The standout defensive end is looking for a new multi-year deal, but he may favor a contract with significant guarantees that kick in after the Raiders relocate to Las Vegas, as Mike Florio of PFT points out.
California has the nation’s highest income tax rate at 13.3% while Nevada is one of the few states with no income tax. Mack may want to push a lot of his guaranteed cash to 2020 and beyond, but the Raiders may be wary about having guarantees on the books years in advance.
The Raiders have yet to make an offer to Mack, so there’s no real end in sight for his training camp holdout.
Raiders Waive OL Vadal Alexander
Yesterday, Raiders coach Jon Gruden indicated that the organization was set to move on from Vadal Alexander. Today, the team made the move official, as the Raiders announced that they have waived the offensive lineman with a non-football injury designation.
Even prior to Gruden’s announcement, things weren’t looking good for the 24-year-old. The lineman was already suspended for four game after violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, and he was a no-show when Raiders’ camp opened. Alexander was removed from the team’s 90-man roster when he failed to show up, so this move won’t open a roster spot for the Raiders.
The 2016 seventh-round pick out of LSU appeared in nine games (five starts) as a rookie, including an appearance at tight end. He appeared in 15 games (four starts) last season, mostly contributing as an offensive guard. Alexander also has some experience playing offensive tackle.
The six-foot-five, 326-pound lineman was already going to struggle for playing time, especially after the Raiders added rookies Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker this offseason. With Alexander now out of the picture, perhaps one of Oday Aboushi, Jylan Ware, Denver Kirkland, and James Stone will have a better shot at making the opening day roster.
Raiders Have Not Made Offer To Khalil Mack
Khalil Mack has yet to show for training camp and there’s no resolution in sight for his quarrel with the team. The Raiders still have not made an offer to the pass rusher and there have been no talks between the two sides since February, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Raiders Set To Jettison OL Vadal Alexander]
The lack of progress on a deal is a head scratcher, especially considering recent comments from GM Reggie McKenzie.
“Khalil is my guy. … It’s unfortunate that we have to go through this. But his camp decided to do it this way … and Khalil is not the first guy to hold out,” McKenzie said this week. “But we’ll get through this. But there is nothing really to report. He is going to hold out until he gets an extension, and that’s where we are.”
Mack is coming off of another strong season in which he tallied 10.5 sacks and 78 total tackles. The former No. 5 overall pick graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 5 ranked edge rusher in the league and he is looking for a deal that will position him as one of the game’s highest-paid non quarterbacks.
As it stands, Mack is slated to reach unrestricted free agency after the 2018 season. The Raiders can control him via the franchise tag after he collects on his $13.846MM salary, but Mack wants a long-term deal today that will provide him substantial guarantees.
McKenzie: Mack Won't Report Without Deal
The Raiders are far later in the game with Khalil Mack than they were when they signed Derek Carr to a then-record-breaking extension, with Mack on the verge of his fifth season compared to Carr being midway through the offseason prior to his fourth. Reggie McKenzie addressed the All-Pro defensive end’s status. The seventh-year Raiders GM does not anticipate Mack reporting to camp without an extension, one that’s shown no progress and featured zero dialogue between Mack and Jon Gruden.
Mack’s already accrued sufficient years for free agency, unlike Aaron Donald. But the two are linked together because of similar pursuits: those of a contract that would raise the bar for defensive players. McKenzie insists the Rams’ impasse has nothing to do with the Raiders. Though, one of these players agreeing to terms would undoubtedly make matters easier for the other team’s negotiations.
- One difference Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk observes between Mack and Donald: rumors aren’t circulating about the Rams’ wherewithal to construct a Donald contract. However, some are wondering if the Raiders can give Mack the kind of guarantee he’s seeking, Florio notes. Mack will be requiring his guarantees be north of Von Miller‘s $70MM ($42MM guaranteed at signing), and Mark Davis‘ franchise is on the lower end of the cash spectrum among NFL teams. Mack is due $13.8MM this season. A prospective franchise tag in 2019 would bump that to around $20MM. Florio suggests, if this is truly the case (and if it was, that would certainly qualify as a crisis), then the Raiders should consider trading their superstar defender to a team that can afford to pay him.
Raiders Set To Jettison OL Vadal Alexander
Despite being a seventh-round pick, Vadal Alexander served as a key depth piece for the Raiders during his first two NFL seasons. He started five games as a rookie and four last season.
But he appears to be on his way out of Oakland. Jon Gruden said Monday (via Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, on Twitter) the Raiders are likely to move on from the third-year blocker in the next few days.
In addition to being suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, Alexander did not report to Raiders camp. The Raiders also made significant additions to their offensive line this offseason, using a first-round pick on Kolton Miller and a second-round selection on Brandon Parker.
With two years remaining on his contract, the 24-year-old Alexander would be placed on waivers if the Raiders indeed cut ties with him.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/30/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Kendall Calhoun, LB Jonathan Celestin, WR Colby Pearson
- Waived: DB Jason Hall, FB Daniel Marx, DB Terrance Parks
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Kevin Bowen, DB Christian Boutte, TE Orson Charles, DB Jeremiah McKinnon
- Waived: OL Victor Salako, DL Trenton Thompson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DT Kaleb Eulls
- Waived/Injured: DL Kapron Lewis-Moore
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: RB James Butler
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FS Lorenzo Jerome
- Retired: LB Joshua Perry
Raiders Rumors: Mack, Conley, Richard
The latest on the Khalil Mack front continues to paint a picture of a situation that has no resolution in sight. Mack remains a Raiders holdout. He and the team are not making progress on an extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). If that weren’t enough, Rapoport adds no communication’s commencing and no optimism exists. Jon Gruden having yet to speak with his top player is certainly interesting, with the now-two-time Oakland coach having accepted the job in January. Mack has not reported for any Raiders activities this year. But more than five weeks remain until the regular season begins. Unlike Aaron Donald, Mack has already accrued four seasons toward free agency after not holding out last year. This provides the 2016 defensive player of the year with leverage to continue his holdout beyond August 7, whereas Donald will have to make a big choice by then to avoid possible restricted free agency in 2019.
Here’s the latest from the AFC’s Bay Area franchise:
- A shin injury Gareon Conley cost almost his entire rookie season, and the corrective surgery cost the 2017 first-round pick part of his offseason. The second-year cornerback has not experienced additional known shin trouble, but he now has encountered a hip problem. Conley missed Saturday and Sunday’s Raiders workouts because of this, and this raised eyebrows among some coaches, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The Raiders are calling this ailment a hip strain, but new DC Paul Guenther doesn’t anticipate Conley being out for too long. Daryl Worley took Conley’s place with the Oakland first-stringers, per Tafur.
- Jalen Richard‘s also dealing with an injury, and without a roster spot secured, this setback figures to pose trouble for his latching on with Gruden’s Raiders. The return man/passing-down back suffered a calf strain at Sunday’s practice, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Richard was spotted walking without crutches after practice, however, but Gehlken anticipates the Raiders adding another running back. Richard and DeAndre Washington, both 2016 additions who have backed up Latavius Murray and then Marshawn Lynch, are believed to be competing for one roster spot. Richard is not expected to factor into the Raiders’ new-look return-men competitions, with the team having signed Dwayne Harris and traded for Ryan Switzer — both having experience under new ST coordinator Rich Bisaccia.
- Kolton Miller has a legitimate chance to win Oakland’s starting left tackle job, with Donald Penn on the mend for now.
Fact That Mack, Gruden Haven't Spoken Is Non-Issue; Kolton Miller Could Win LT Job
- We learned several days ago that Raiders star defensive end Khalil Mack, who is staying away from the team in an effort to land a new contract, has not spoken with head coach Jon Gruden since Gruden was hired in January. That report sent some of Raiders Nation into panic mode, but as Jerry McDonald of the Mercury News opines, there is no cause for alarm. He says Gruden is right to stay out of the negotiations, which is the domain of GM Reggie McKenzie and ownership, and that there should be no issues between Mack and Gruden when the contract situation does get resolved. McKenzie, meanwhile had no updates to offer on the negotiations.
- In other Raiders news, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports that rookie Kolton Miller will be given every chance to win the starting LT job from Donald Penn, who is currently on the PUP list.
Raiders Sign OL Oday Aboushi
The Raiders have added some depth to their offensive line. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed offensive lineman Oday Aboushi.
The 2013 fifth-round pick has managed to put together a solid five-year career, starting 26 of his 34 games (including 10 starts in 15 games for the Jets in 2014). The six-foot-five, 315-pound offensive guard spent last season with the Seahawks, where he started each of his eight games. He ultimately graded out as the No. 60 guard among 76 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, which assigned Aboushi bottom-five marks as a run blocker.
After ending last season on the injured reserve with a dislocated shoulder, Aboushi wasn’t able to garner a whole lot of interest this offseason. We heard back in May that the 49ers had hosted the veteran for a workout, but it’s otherwise been quiet for the 27-year-old.
With the Raiders, Aboushi will be reunited with offensive line coach Tom Cable, who had the same role with the Seahawks last season. While it’s unlikely that Aboushi will beat out Kelechi Osemele or Gabe Jackson for a starting gig, he could compete with Jon Feliciano, Denver Kirkland, James Stone, and Ian Silberman for backup reps.
Raiders’ Mack Has Yet To Speak With Gruden
Is there real trouble brewing in Oakland? Defensive end Khalil Mack and Jon Gruden have not spoken once since the Raiders hired their new coach in January, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. 
[RELATED: Mack Won’t Show For Camp]
The Raiders are presently in a standoff with Mack, who is staying away from the team as he pushes for a new contract. Mack is obviously a big part of the puzzle in Oakland, so it’s shocking to hear that there has been no communication between him and Gruden over the last seven months.
Mack has averaged 12 sacks per season over the last three years. Last year, he graded out as the fifth best edge rusher in the entire league, per Pro Football Focus.
As it stands, Mack is slated to reach unrestricted free agency following the 2018 season. He’s scheduled to earn $13.846MM, per the terms of his fifth-year option. His deal accounts for nearly 8% of the Raiders’ salary cap, and he is likely seeking a deal that will give him a similar piece of the pie over a six-year span, even as the cap continues to increase. So far, talks have dragged.