Defensive End Khalil Mack
ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders have exercised the fifth-year option on DE Khalil Mack, extending his contract through the 2018 season, the club announced Thursday.
The Raiders originally drafted Mack in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder has emerged into one of the league's premier defenders over his first three seasons, earning Associated Press First Team All-Pro selections in back-to-back seasons (2015-16), while adding an Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year award in 2016 among numerous other individual accolades. For his career, Mack has started all 48 games, totaling 240 tackles (173 solo), 30 sacks, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception returned for a touchdown and 12 passes defensed.
Last season, Mack was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press and Pro Football Writers of America after recording 77 tackles (56), five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception returned for a touchdown and four passes defensed. On his way to becoming the second Raider to win the AP Defensive Player of the Year award and first since 1980, Mack was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November and also won two AFC Defensive Player of the Week awards. He also tied an NFL record by notching a sack in eight consecutive games from Oct. 16-Dec. 8.
A native of Fort Pierce, Fla., Mack played collegiately at Buffalo, starting all 48 games in which he appeared. He set a career NCAA record with 16 forced fumbles while setting a school record with 28.5 sacks. Mack also garnered first-team All-MAC honors three seasons in a row from 2011-2013.
