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With Aaron Donald getting a record-setting $135 million contract extension, the only two holdouts right now as we near the start of the 2018 NFL regular season are Oakland Raiders pass-rusher Khalil Mack and Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas.
For both Mack and Thomas, it looks like their respective teams are nowhere near close to a resolution. The latest on Thomas is barely a news story at all, as we’ve heard some version of this story several times before: Teams are interested, including the Dallas Cowboys, but they’re not offering up anything that matches Seattle’s asking price.
From NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero:
“We all know he has not reported to Seattle. The Dallas Cowboys have been viewed as the main contender for Thomas. But my understanding is multiple other teams have reached out recently to show interest in acquiring Thomas.
“Now, at this point, the Seahawks have not had anybody meet their asking price. Really, there is no progress on any front. There are no contracts happening between the Seahawks and Thomas. Really no sense of urgency right now even though the season is just nine days away.”
It’s a totally different story for Mack, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. The Raiders apparently want at least two first-rounders for Khalil, far steeper than the Seahawks are presumably wanting for Thomas, and now there are more rumblings that the disgruntled Mack may very well get dealt.
With less than 24 hrs to go before the cut-down day deadline, the trade market for #Raiders star pass-rusher Khalil Mack is robust, I’m told. There are enough teams interested where the chances of Mack being traded is very real. Oakland is gauging and listening. Tune in tomorrow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018
NFL teams have legit begun jockeying for position to try to land Khalil Mack via trade. At this point I will be far more surprised if he is not moved than if he is dealt
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) September 1, 2018
(Yes I know La Canfora’s less than stellar history, but still...)
Of course there are teams interested in Khalil Mack, so that’s not the story. But from the looks of things on this final day of August, there’s a better chance that Mack is traded than Thomas. Seattle is in no hurry with ETIII, the Raiders are seemingly more engaged as far as Mack offers.
Rapoport says “tune in tomorrow,” which is cut-down day, and we might just find out what the Raiders plan to do, possibly including the distant chance that the Seahawks could be involved in the Khalil Mack sweepstakes.