2017 Raiders Salary Info: The Underpaid Players
Finding the most underpaid Oakland Raiders players isn’t as easy as scouring the bottom of their salary overhead and looking for star players. Remember, NFL rookie contracts are slated so players have little say over what they make in their first contracts.
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Thus, the real underpaid players come from those taking bargain salaries well into their career. General manager Reggie McKenzie has done a good job signing veterans that exceed their market value. Here are a few of the Silver and Black’s most underpaid players.
Honorable Mention
Edge Khalil Mack is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Mack also became the first player to earn All-Pro honors at two positions in 2015, when he was voted first team at linebacker and defensive end. Now, Mack is only making a $2.96 base salary in the final year of his rookie deal. Even when Mack’s salary grows after he enters his fifth-year option next season, the 26-year-old will be vastly underpaid.
Otherwise, Amari Cooper is another rookie contract player who will be underpaid for the next few seasons. Despite being the Raiders No. 1 offensive weapon, he is only making a $2.49 in base salary this season. At age 23, Cooper has already been to two Pro Bowls too.
Again, it is unfair to say that Cooper and Mack are underpaid. They’re both on rookie contracts where they had little leverage to negotiate their pay.
It’s also hard to say Marshawn Lynch is underpaid. Remember, Beast Mode is making a $2.35 million base salary after registering only 417 rushing games in seven games for the 2015 Seattle Seahawks. No one knows what will get from the 31-year-old running back that spent last season in retirement.
Reggie Nelson
Anyone who watched a Raiders game last season can tell you Reggie Nelson brings a presence to the secondary as ballhawk and heavy hitter at safety. PFF rated him as the 34th best safety with a 79.3 grade which still puts him in the top half of the league.
Still, the 33-year-old can name more than twenty safeties that have a higher average annual salary. Nelson’s $4.25 million per year average makes him a bargain considering he went to two consecutive Pro Bowls after two seasons with 5 or more interceptions. Nelson can get beat in coverage but his ability to register turnovers for the Raiders makes him a worthy investment.
Donald Penn
Left tackle Donald Penn has only missed one start for the Raiders over the past three seasons. Unfortunately, it was Oakland’s playoff game versus the Texans this past season. Either way, Penn earns the 20th highest paid contract based on average salary per year. His $6.25 million average is a bargain for one of the most reliable left tackles in the NFL.
Penn is a big part of an offensive line that helped propel Derek Carr to elite QB status. Football Outsiders ranked the Raiders o-line at No. 1 for pass protection based on adjusted sack rate and No. 11 in run blocking based on adjusted line yards. None of this is possible without Penn’s blocking on the backside. The 33-year-old finished last season graded as PFF’s No. 12 rated tackle.
Michael Crabtree
Receiver Michael Crabtree was PFF’s No. 36 receiver and the 16th highest paid receiver based on average annual salary. For further context, his $9.5 million average is the same Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery and Redskins WR Pierre Garcon. Crabtree had five more touchdowns than Garcon last season and only 38 less receiving yards. Meanwhile, Jeffery only registered 821 receiving yards and two touchdowns last season.
Thus, Crabtree’s deal is well at market value. He registered 1003 receiving yards last season and 922 receiving yards the year before. Crabtree also has 17 touchdowns for the Raiders over the past two seasons. This is in spite of being the Raiders second receiving option.
Sure, the 29-year-old was among leaders in dropped passes last season. Either way, he has become one of the Raiders most reliable targets on third down and in the red zone. Crabtree is a big reason why the Raiders changed their offensive culture over the past two seasons. He’s only missed one start over that time period.
Ultimately, the Raiders have a very good general manager who has negotiated many very good deals. Therefore, it is hard to really pick out the underpaid players on Oakland’s roster. Many players could earn more with different NFL teams than the Silver and Black.
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