Browns Interested In Raiders DE Khalil Mack
The Browns are expected to reach out to the Raiders regarding the availability of edge rusher Khalil Mack, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
Mack is currently engaged in a contract dispute with Oakland, one that’s expected to last into the regular season. One of the NFL’s best pass-rushers, Mack is scheduled to earn $13.846MM in 2018 before hitting free agency next spring.
The Raiders’ asking price for Mack is believed to start with two first-round picks, but it’s unclear if any club is willing to meet that price. While teams have inquired on Mack, and offers have been coming in, Oakland has yet to make a trade. The Jets, for one, are known to be interested in acquiring Mack.
Cleveland already boasts one excellent pass-rusher in Myles Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft. But adding a talent like Mack would give the club a truly elite presence on both sides of its defensive line. And Cleveland, which has $61MM in available cap space, has more than enough funds to work out an extension with Mack.
Mack, 27, has been a wrecking ball since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2014. A three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, Mack has totaled 40.5 sacks over his first four NFL seasons. In 2017, Pro Football Focus graded Mack as the NFL’s seventh-best edge defender.
Raiders’ Daryl Worley Facing 4-Game Ban
One of the Raiders’ many offseason acquisitions at cornerback doesn’t stand to be available in September.
Daryl Worley is facing a four-game suspension stemming from his offseason arrest, ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson reports (on Twitter). He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, resisting arrest and carrying firearms in public. He’s been on three teams this offseason.
Worley’s suspension may explain why the Raiders, who obviously have not been shy about diving into free agency this year, added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie earlier this month. Worley and DRC join Shareece Wright, Leon Hall and Rashaan Melvin as corners Oakland added in free agency. Not all are a lock to make the 53-man roster, and Worley’s status may not be secure, but the Raiders’ corner corps will look vastly different this season.
A 2016 Panthers third-round pick, Worley was sent to the Eagles in exchange for Torrey Smith but waived after the arrest in April. He started 25 games with Carolina during his two seasons there.
Raiders Shopping Mario Edwards
The Raiders are shopping former second-round pick Mario Edwards, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears (on Twitter). The Raiders have been frustrated by him, Rapoport hears, and he may be on the roster bubble heading into Saturday’s deadline. 
The Raiders had high hopes for Edwards when they selected him with the No. 35 overall pick in 2015. However, he struggled to get going as a 21-year-old rookie and a hip injury set him back as an NFL sophomore.
Edwards bounced back last year as he started in each of his 14 games, and he set a new career high with 3.5 sacks. Apparently, he hasn’t impressed new head coach Jon Gruden in camp, so he could be on his way out of Oakland.
If another team acquires Edwards, they’ll have him under contract for one more season with a base salary of $1.255MM. That would be a fairly low-risk move, and Edwards will surely cost a lot less than a second rounder.
Raiders Waived/Injured WR Griff Whalen
Wide receiver Griff Whalen has reached a four-week injury settlement with the Raiders, according to Michael Gehlken of the Review Journal (on Twitter). The move will allow Whalen to move ahead as a free agent, rather than sit on the Raiders’ IR.
Per league rules, Whalen could re-sign with the Raiders in Week 7 of the regular season. However, he might not last that long on the open market if he is able to work out for teams at something close to 100%.
Whalen seemed likely to make the Raiders’ final cut until a case of turf toe sidelined him this summer. Whalen was is line for playing time as a slot receiver, but it seems that those duties will be covered by Seth Roberts. Ryan Switzer, another slot candidate for Oakland, was traded to the Steelers this week, giving further clarity to the Raiders’ WR group. Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson, and Martavis Bryant are expected to lead the way at the position.
Raiders Receiving Khalil Mack Trade Offers
Offers are coming in for Khalil Mack, but Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (video link) the Raiders are not especially interested in dealing him. But a certain price might bring them to the table.
Some around the NFL believe to start a Mack trade conversation with the Raiders it will take two first-round picks, Pelissero reports. While a team may not get to that level, especially considering any Mack deal would involve a $20MM-plus-AAV agreement with the contract-year pass rusher, offers have come the Raiders’ way.
A team offered the Raiders a first-round pick and another draft choice for the 27-year-old superstar, per Pelissero, and another franchise offered a player in exchange for Mack. The longer this goes, more such proposals could come Oakland’s way.
The Jets are interested in Mack, and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports they’ve been monitoring the Bay Area stalemate for a while. Gang Green acquired an additional 2019 third-round pick in exchange for Teddy Bridgewater on Wednesday, strengthening their position in this unique situation. However, if the Raiders make it known they would do a deal, the Jets are serious about acquiring Mack, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets.
Mack’s shown no intention of relenting in these glacial talks, and Reggie McKenzie doesn’t expect him to. But guaranteed money represents a sticking point for Mack and the Raiders, who would have the option to use the franchise tag on their best player next year. A team that submits such an offer sheet to a tagged player must part with two first-round picks, although tag-and-trade transactions involving lesser compensation obviously represent an option.
For now, Mack remains a Raider, just one who’s been estranged from the Jon Gruden regime since it began.
DeAndre Washington IR Candidate
- The Raiders will likely waive DeAndre Washington and allow recent camp pickup Chris Warren to take his place, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com notes. Washington recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and is an IR candidate, per Gutierrez, who has the Raiders keeping four running backs — Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin, Jalen Richard and Warren. Washington and Richard served as backups for Lynch and Latavius Murray the past two years. Washington averaged 5.4 yards per carry as a rookie but struggled last season (2.7 YPC).
Raiders’ Khalil Mack Likely To Miss Games
The Raiders and Khalil Mack have made no progress in contract talks and the All-Pro defensive end is likely to miss regular-season games as a result, sources familiar with the standoff tell Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports. The Raiders open their season on Sept. 10 against the Rams, so the two sides have less than two weeks to turn things around before Mack abstains from meaningful games.
The Raiders have yet to make an offer to Mack, despite his prolonged holdout this offseason. Technically, the fifth-year veteran is tied to his $13.8MM fifth-year option, but Mack is willing to miss out on game checks that are worth more than $800K in order to make a point and force the Raiders into giving him a lucrative extension. Meanwhile, GM Reggie McKenzie does not expect Mack to report to the club until he has a contract in hand.
Because of the impasse, the Raiders have not ruled out trading Mack. There are at least four clubs seriously interested in making a deal for the defensive dynamo, and the Jets may be among those teams.
Apparently, things haven’t improved much since talks first stalled back in February. There have been no meaningful talks between the two sides in months, Robinson hears, and Mack’s side has taken a “pay him or trade him” stance with the Raiders.
Coach Jon Gruden has final say over the matter, but he has not been directly involved with the talks either. Robinson also hears that owner Mark Davis has the flexibility needed to give Mack a lucrative deal with guarantees, despite speculation about the Raiders’ finances. And, the two sides aren’t waiting on Rams star Aaron Donald to sign a deal. Still, with the season fast approaching, the lack of progress between the Raiders and Mack is troubling.
Raiders Notes: DRC, Roster Projection
- The details are in on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s one-year deal with the Raiders. Rodgers-Cromartie will make $1.015MM this year, and will count for $630K against the cap according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN (Twitter link). It’s a big pay-cut for DRC, who was scheduled to make $6.5MM this year with the Giants.
- Scott Bair of NBC Sports is out with his Raiders roster projection. Notably, Bair thinks both Connor Cook and E.J. Manuel will be cut, and that the Raiders will bring in someone from outside the team to be Derek Carr‘s backup.
Raiders Place Whalen On IR, Release Giacomini
The Raiders have placed wide receiver Griff Whalen on injured reserve. Whalen has reportedly been dealing with turf toe and was said to be questionable for Week 1, but the injury is more serious than previously believed.
Oakland also released Breno Giacomini. The veteran was set to be the Raiders’ starting right tackle before the start of camp, but he has been sidelined as of late with a knee injury.
The Raiders have dropped two wide receivers from their roster on Monday by putting Whalen on IR and trading Ryan Switzer to the Steelers. The moves aren’t necessarily the precursor to a wide receiver signing, because the Raiders have serious roster trimming to do between now and Saturday. Despite the shakeup, the Raiders still have a top four consisting of Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson, Martavis Bryant, and Seth Roberts.
To take the place of Whalen and Giacomini, the Raiders have signed defensive lineman Connor Flagel and cornerback Jarell Carter.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/18
NFL teams are making roster moves in advance of Saturday’s 53-man deadline. We’ll keep track of the minor moves here:
Detroit Lions
- Released: CB Josh Okonye
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
- Waived: RB Tion Green
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: C Jacob Judd
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: CB Jarell Carter
New England Patriots
- Signed RB Kenneth Farrow, WR K.J. Maye, RB Khalfani Muhammad
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Ironhead Gallon
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Lenard Tillery