Khalil Mack might get a hefty raise from the Oakland Raiders.
Melvin Ingram just signed a four-year contract extension worth $62 million with the Los Angeles Chargers according to Adam Schefter of ESPN but what will that mean for Khalil Mack?
Mack’s worth more than that, but at this point and since negotiations toward a new deal have not started, it’s uncertain how much money he’s going to demand; contract talks can take two different turns: One where he becomes one of the highest-paid overall players in the NFL or a more modest one in which he gets millions but leaves money on the table in order to help the Raiders manage their salary cap. At this point, both scenarios are equally possible as he has performed at an elite level.
Mack hasn’t just produced in a steady manner but has done so in a dominant way. He has had 170 tackles and 30 sacks in three years with the Raiders. Moreover, he was voted All-Pro by the Associated Press at two different positions, a feat that had not been achieved until he did, two years ago. Barring a devastating injury, he should have no problems matching his production in the following years.
Knowing what kind of leverage he has, Mack would have no problems if he wanted to maximize his value, just like Von Miller did last year. The Denver Broncos had to comply as Miller was in good position after his team won the Super Bowl. Although Mack has not played in a championship game yet, premium players get premium contracts and Mack could top Miller’s $114 million.
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On the other hand, JJ Watt agreed to a cap-friendly contract in 2014 so the Texans could use the savings at other positions such as quarterback. Even if said money has not been spent adequately, the contract Watt signed gave the Texans the flexibility to allocate their finances without limiting themselves.
Khalil is a better player than both Miller and Ingram; he had a total of 178 pressures in the last two years. In the same span, Miller had 161 and Ingram accounted for 125; 17 and 52 less than Mack respectively.
Mack’s in control of his own destiny, what he decides to do will not define him as a player, but it will either make him a very rich person or a not so rich player that helped his team financially. It remains to be seen which path he chooses.
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