Is there real trouble brewing in Oakland? Defensive end Khalil Mack and Jon Gruden have not spoken once since the Raiders hired their new coach in January, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. 
[RELATED: Mack Won’t Show For Camp]
The Raiders are presently in a standoff with Mack, who is staying away from the team as he pushes for a new contract. Mack is obviously a big part of the puzzle in Oakland, so it’s shocking to hear that there has been no communication between him and Gruden over the last seven months.
Mack has averaged 12 sacks per season over the last three years. Last year, he graded out as the fifth best edge rusher in the entire league, per Pro Football Focus.
As it stands, Mack is slated to reach unrestricted free agency following the 2018 season. He’s scheduled to earn $13.846MM, per the terms of his fifth-year option. His deal accounts for nearly 8% of the Raiders’ salary cap, and he is likely seeking a deal that will give him a similar piece of the pie over a six-year span, even as the cap continues to increase. So far, talks have dragged.
He will be tagged for sure the next two years
Personally I don’t see that strategy being effective any more. Franchise players like Bell, Beckham and Mack don’t want to endure what Curt Cousins went through and be locked in limbo for 2 years. If they don’t get long term extensions with guaranteed money up front they are going to take their chances on the open market.
Why is it shocking that Gruden and Mack haven’t talked? They both know what Mack’s role on the defense is going to be. McKenzie is the GM doing the negotiating so Gruden getting involved would only serve to undermine the process.
Totally agree. People seem to think that a professional football team is a bunch of friends hanging out all day throwing a ball around. And it’s not like the league distributes every coach’s and player’s cell phone number to the rest of the players so they can have group chats all day. Most coaches don’t talk to their players until camp and training sessions start. This article is silly.