Aaron Donald's Contract Gives Life To Khalil Mack Trade Rumors As Raiders' Star Continues Holdout

Aaron Donald’s holdout has come to an end after agreeing to a record-setting contract. The Los Angeles Rams are giving the 2017 NFL Defensive Player of the Year a new six-year, $135 million deal with $87 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.

After sitting out the entire preseason, Donald will take the field in Week 1 when L.A. takes on the Oakland Raiders, who are dealing with their own holdout. Khalil Mack was named the league’s best defender the season before Donald won the award, and he seems content to stay home until he gets paid like a former DPOY winner.

The Raiders aren’t in a rush to match Mack’s contract demands. The defensive end has found himself at the center of trade rumors, as a result, and Donald’s new deal has only given life to the idea that Oakland might be prepared to trade their best player for the right offer.

Every new contract signed by a star player seems to top the previous record. Mack will likely ask for at least what Donald received, and there are no signs that Oakland is willing to hand out such a contract.

Oakland has one of the league’s highest payrolls. It was just last summer that they gave Derek Carr a $125 million, five-year deal. The Raiders would have to become the first team ever with two players on their roster that have contracts worth well over $100 million.

It’s no secret that a few NFL teams have reached out to Oakland and expressed serious interest in acquiring Mack. The New York Jets want the defensive end, according to the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the Raiders have received strong offers from around the league, including a package that involved a first-round pick and another high draft selection.

There is some debate regarding Oakland’s actual interest in dealing Mack. Teams have reportedly gotten the sense that the Raiders won’t make a trade without getting back at least two first rounders in return. That could mean Oakland isn’t serious about making a trade unless they are absolutely blown away.

Donald’s contract has set the bar for Mack, though the news doesn’t come as a huge shock to Oakland. Pro Football Talk had previously reported that Donald was on the verge of signing a record-setting deal with around $80 million guaranteed. The Raiders have likely been prepared for such a scenario.

Maybe Mack will get tired of being fined $814,000 for every missed game and report to Oakland within a few weeks. Perhaps the two sides will work out some sort of agreement, even if it’s not a record-setting deal.

But until Mack is seen wearing a Raiders’ uniform, you can bet that talks of him playing for another team in the 2018 season will only persist.