ALAMEDA, Calif. _ The Raiders have exercised the fifth-year contract option on Khalil Mack, ensuring the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year remains with the team through at least 2018, the team announced.
Mack, the No. 5 overall pick in 2014 and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, would receive the average of the top 10 players at his position in 2018 if the Raiders don't first put pen to paper on a long-term contract extension.
Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie has made that his stated goal for this offseason, although the higher priority at this point would be to lock up quarterback Derek Carr and right guard Gabe Jackson _ the team's second and third round picks from 2014 who are entering the final year of their deals. After they are locked up, Mack becomes the biggest priority and could land himself a contract in excess of $20 million per year, although it's possible that waits until next offseason.
Based on the current top defensive end salaries, Mack would be due about $13.2 million in 2018. His cap number for this season is a reasonable $5.9 million and the Raiders have about $28 million in cap space to fit in those extensions, plus a possible deal with retired running back Marshawn Lynch.
The plan with Carr, whom the team has already engaged in contract talks with, is to wait until after next week's draft and then return to the table with the hopes of having him locked up before the start of training camp.
