Report: Rams’ Aaron Donald contract ‘changed dynamics’ of Mack talks

The Oakland Raiders may indirectly have another team to thank for making potential negotiations with defensive end Khalil Mack untenable.

According to Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic, the Raiders were willing to make Mack the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, but the Rams beat them to it by signing Aaron Donald to a record extension.

That, according to Bonsignore, immediately changed the game from the Raiders’ standpoint and made a long-term deal with Mack impossible.

FYI on #Raiders: There was a threshold they were ok with. It would have made Mack highest paid defensive player of all time. But Aaron Donald deal changed dynamics. Raiders could have met/topped, but ultimately decided adding 2 1sts/spreading Mack money around was wiser approach

— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) September 1, 2018

It’s worth noting that negotiations did not appear to be going well even before Donald inked his deal. That said, Mack trade rumors heated up quickly after Donald signed, and now he’s reportedly headed to the Chicago Bears for two first-round picks. It’s probably not coincidence that the Mack rumors hit critical mass once the Donald deal had set the market for pass-rushers.