The Raiders are exercising the fifth-year option on linebacker Khalil Mack, Peter Schrager of NFL.com tweets. The news doesn’t come as much of a surprise. This was, of course, a no-brainer for the Raiders. 
Before Mack’s option kicks in for the 2018 season, it’s widely expected that the two sides will hammer out a long-term extension. Mack quickly blossomed into a superstar for the Raiders and he has been vocal about his desire to stay for the long haul. The Raiders appear to be a legitimate contender for 2017 and Oakland fans are struggling to cope with the team’s impending move to Las Vegas, so the organization has every reason in the world to lock down the former No. 5 overall pick.
Last season, Mack earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro nods. He finished out the season with 73 total tackles and 11 sacks and, unsurprisingly, graded out as Pro Football Focus’ top ranked edge defender. Mack’s 93.9 overall score edged out notable names like Brandon Graham, Cameron Jordan, Von Miller, Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, and Chandler Jones.
The Raiders have lots of cap room to work with as they talk extension with Mack and quarterback Derek Carr. Deals could go down quickly for both players, but there almost certainly won’t be any signed contracts between now and the draft.