Donald Penn is likely to end his holdout and report to the Raiders at some point this week, possibly as early as Tuesday, sources tell Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Penn initiated his holdout in late July with the end goal of earning a top-ten left tackle salary.
Penn, 34, is scheduled to earn $5.8MM in 2017, and Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie indicated that the club wouldn’t renegotiate that figure unless Penn showed up for training camp. Even if Penn reports, the Raiders aren’t expected to rework his deal, per Tafur, although they could choose to guarantee his 2017 salary. That would mark an extremely minor concession on the part of Oakland, as Penn was clearly going to make the Week 1 roster and therefore see his salary guaranteed.
A remarkably durable player, Penn hasn’t missed a single game during his decade-long career. Last year, Penn ranked as the NFL’s No. 12 offensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus, while playing nearly every offensive snap for the Raiders.
Oakland, of course, boasts one of the league’s best offensive lines, and has continually been willing to invest in its front five, handing large contracts to Kelechi Osemele, Gabe Jackson, and Rodney Hudson. Last year, the unit ranked first in adjusted sack rate and 11th in adjusted line yards, per Football Outsiders.
Penn’s yearly contract value of $6.25MM ranks just 21st among NFL left tackles, as he’s sandwiched between the Cardinals’ Jared Veldheer (who’s being shifted to the right side) and former No. 2 draft pick Greg Robinson.
Penn actually has missed a game, the Texans game last year in the playoffs…