Could Raiders Consider Trading Khalil Mack?
Could the Raiders conceivably trade Khalil Mack? Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com feels that they would be wise to listen if another team blows them away with an offer of, say, two first-round picks for the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year.
Within the blurb, Gutierrez also references an exchange in March with GM Reggie McKenzie in which he asked (perhaps jokingly) if the writer had an extra $100MM on hand to help pay Mack. That may be an indication that the Raiders do not have the cash necessary to make Mack one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL, though there is no direct evidence of financial trouble in Oakland at this time.
- Former Raiders wide receiver and current NFL Network analyst James Jones hears that wide receiver Martavis Bryant is having trouble picking up the team’s playbook (via PFT). In a conversation with Jones, Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson indicated that Bryant has impressed with his natural talent, but his inability to grasp the team’s playbook has been a source of frustration for the club. Despite the hiccups, the Raiders traded a third-round pick for Bryant earlier this year, so it would be a shocker if he is not on the Week 1 roster.
Raiders Want Donald Penn To Take Pay Cut
The Raiders are pushing for Donald Penn to take a pay cut, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Specifics are unclear, but Gehlken gets the sense that the Raiders will ask Penn to convert most or all of his $3MM guarantee into bonuses or incentives. 
Last year, Penn stayed away from the club as he pressured them for a new deal. His tactics worked as Oakland gave him a two-year, $21MM extension to remove his lame duck status.
Penn more or less played up to the expectations of the new deal last year as he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 23 ranked tackle in the NFL. Unfortunately, however, he suffered a Lisfranc fracture against the Cowboys in December and remains on the PUP list as a result.
Ostensibly, the Raiders still want to move forward with Penn. First-round pick Kolton Miller has impressed in camp this summer, but the ideal arrangement for Oakland is to have both players starting on the offensive line. For that to happen, the 35-year-old may be forced to rework his contract.
Sean Smith To Be Released From Jail
Former Raiders cornerback Sean Smith is slated to be released from jail in September, according to TMZ. Smith has served less than half of his year-long sentence, but he is on track to be let go next month due to good behavior and overcrowding in the facility. 
Smith was sentenced to one year in jail plus five years probation after pleading guilty to felony assault. The incident took place last summer, when a dispute between the cornerback and his sister’s boyfriend turned violent. The victim suffered several major injuries in the attack, and Smith was subsequently released by the Raiders.
Smith lost out on the money he was owed on his four-year, $40MM deal, and it stands to reason that he may attempt an NFL return in order to make up for the lost cash. If that’s the case, he’ll almost certainly have to serve a suspension first, and it could be lengthy given the nature of his situation.
The veteran graded out as just the No. 73 cornerback among 121 qualifiers last year, per Pro Football Focus. He’s picked off two passes in each of the last three seasons, but had a career-low four pass defenses last year while appearing in 14 games, starting eight.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/18
Today’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DE Marcus Martin
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Alex Balducci
- Waived: OL Austin Golson
Oakland Raiders
- Waived/Injured: DB Shaquille Richardson
- Signed: CB Raysean Pringle
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Je’Ron Hamm, DT Joey Ivie
- Waived: DT Lord Hyeamang
- Waived/Injured: FB Khalid Hill
Raiders Rumors: Switzer, DL, Kickers
While Jon Gruden‘s yet to bestow much praise upon Martavis Bryant, the Raiders’ other wide receiver trade acquisition has impressed the new coach. It’s looking like the former Cowboys draft choice will have a role in the passing game, and Ryan Switzer certainly will contribute on special teams. Switzer returned seven punts for touchdowns while at North Carolina, including five his freshman year. He returned a punt for a score last season as a rookie.
“He’s a guy that can change the game, I think, on third down. He’s a tough matchup,” Gruden said, via Vic Tafur of The Athletic (subscription required). “He’s quick. He has vertical speed. He has special teams ability. … I love Switzer. I think he’s one of the best punt returners of college football, perhaps the history of college football. He’s as good as I saw.”
Seth Roberts has served as the Raiders’ top slot option for the better part of the past three seasons for a team that hasn’t featured much depth at the position. Switzer, if nothing else, may supply that.
Here’s the latest out of Oakland.
- It’s not finalized the Raiders will play the 2019 season in Oakland, but they will remain in Napa, Calif., for training camp next year. It could be their last one in northern California, however. In 2020, Reno has emerged as the favorite, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes. Reno officials visited Raiders camp this weekend, Gehlken reports, and Las Vegas has been ruled out as a camp site. The Raiders hope to play the 2019 season in Oakland, and while 2020 represents the franchise’s relocation goal, a firm departure date hasn’t been established.
- Giorgio Tavecchio‘s kicking foot looks to have played a key part in his Raiders downfall. Holder Johnny Townsend had to switch sides when the Silver and Black alternated reps between last year’s kicker (Tavecchio, who is left-footed) and rookie UDFA Eddy Pineiro, and Gruden was tired of that continuing to be required, he said today (via Tafur). Gruden added that Pineiro has kicked well in camp and that he views Mike Nugent as a legitimate option, rather than a mere mentor.
- The Raiders have not been able to supplement Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin with much in the way of complementary pass rushers the past two seasons, but a growing belief exists among Raiders coaches and scouts their rookie contingent of defensive linemen — P.J. Hall, Arden Key and Maurice Hurst — can be early contributors, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area notes. The team has injury-prone defensive end Mario Edwards entering a contract year and fifth-year nose tackle Justin Ellis back. And the Raiders signed Tank Carradine in March. Eddie Vanderdoes enters his second season after being a primary starter as a rookie, but he’s coming off an ACL tear. The team looks to have a deeper pool of options up front.
- The Raiders are also making some history on their strength and conditioning staff. Kelsey Martinez is signed on to work as an assistant strength assistant, Gehlken writes. The 26-year-old becomes the franchise’s first woman to work in this department. Martinez worked under new Raiders strength boss Tom Shaw at the Tom Shaw Performance facility in Orlando, Fla., the past four years.
Martavis Bryant Underwhelming In Camp; Eddy Pineiro Heavy Favorite For Kicking Job
- Raiders head coach Jon Gruden says his team’s kicking competition is not over, and that either rookie Eddy Pineiro or recent veteran acquisition Mike Nugent could win the job. But Scott Bair of NBCSports.com says Pineiro remains the heavy favorite, and Bair suggests it would be a major surprise if the rookie did not open the season as the team’s kicker.
- We have not heard anything about a potential suspension for new Raiders receiver Martavis Bryant since June, which is obviously good news for Bryant and the team, but Gruden does not seem impressed with Bryant’s on-field performance thus far. Vic Tafur of The Athletic tweets that Bryant needs to step up his game and get more out of his reps, and Gruden said that the former Steeler needs to “master the offense and be more versatile.” Bryant is eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2019 — assuming he’s not suspended, of course — and even though he is battling for the team’s No. 3 receiver job, his talent suggests he could excel in Oakland’s offense and earn himself a nice payday next year.
Daryl Worley Plead Guilty To Three Charges
- After being arrested in April as a member of the Eagles, now Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley plead guilty in to DUI, carrying firearms in public, and resisting arrest, reports Vic Tafur of the Athletic (Twitter link). Worley was sentenced to three days in jail and two years of probation, and his legal issues are now resolved. As such, Worley could be forced to serve a suspension during the 2018 season, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Worley was traded to Philadelphia in exchange for wide receiver Torrey Smith earlier this year, but the Eagles cut him the day he was arrested.
- The Bears worked out free agent interior offensive lineman Alex Officer, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Officer went undrafted out of Pittsburgh earlier this year but landed a deal with the Raiders in May. He was waived just two weeks into his Oakland tenure, and has been sitting on the open market since. Per Wilson, Officer conducted a solid workout, but Chicago isn’t aiming to sign him immediately.
Raiders To Waive Giorgio Tavecchio, Sign Mike Nugent
The Raiders are going to be moving in a different direction at kicker. Giorgio Tavecchio won’t be a part of Oakland’s kicking competition any longer, with Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reporting (on Twitter) the second-year kicker will be waived.
Oakland, though, won’t automatically give rookie Eddy Pineiro the job. Mike Nugent will join the team, per Gehlken.
Tavecchio served as the Raiders’ kicker throughout last season, having replaced Sebastian Janikowski. Tavecchio made 16 of his 21 field goal attempts with the Raiders in 2017 and converted 33 of his 34 PAT tries. But Jon Gruden has orchestrated a string of shakeups this offseason, and Tavecchio’s trip to the waiver wire serves as the latest.
The 28-year-old Italian endured a rough Friday at Raiders camp, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic (Twitter link). The Raiders, though, gave Pineiro a $25K signing bonus to compete with the incumbent as a UDFA.
If the 36-year-old Nugent beats out the rookie, the Raiders will be his seventh team. He last kicked for the Bears and Cowboys (four games apiece) in 2017. He served as the Bengals’ kicker for six years prior to that. However, Tafur adds (on Twitter) Nugent will be viewed as more of a mentor than full-fledged competition for Pineiro. He may be insurance in case the Florida product, who made 17 of his 18 field goal tries last season, has a rough preseason.
Two right-footed kickers are now vying for the Raiders’ job, with the winner set to become the first non-lefty to serve as the Oakland kicker since Brad Daluiso 17 years ago.
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.