Raiders LT Donald Penn signs 2-year, $20.6M extension
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Donald Penn had faith the Raiders would take care of him.
After a busy week of negotiations, they have.
The veteran left tackle signed a two-year, $20.6 million extension Friday. He is now under contract through the 2019 season. All of the team’s five starting offensive linemen to begin the season are effectively signed through at least the 2018 campaign.
The deal was designed to benefit both sides.
For Penn, the terms of his 2017 contract are unchanged. He is still due a $5.8 million salary. He is still eligible for up to $750,000 in incentives. But now, he is no longer scheduled to become a free agent in March, and the next two years represent a pay raise from his current deal.
Half of his 2018 base salary is fully guaranteed, according to his representation at Alliance Sports. Penn is eligible to receive per-game roster bonuses in 2018 and 2019. If he plays a certain percentage of the Raiders’ offensive snaps in 2018, a $1 million roster bonus will become fully guaranteed in 2019. Additional bonuses are available for individual Pro Bowl and team playoff appearances.
In a year of Raiders extensions that included quarterback Derek Carr and right guard Gabe Jackson, the partial guarantee tied to Penn’s 2018 base salary was done in lieu of a signing bonus.
It effectively helped the franchise with cash flow.
Rocky Arceneaux of Alliance Sports worked with Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie to establish the foundation of the deal. Brian Hannula worked with Tom Delaney, the club’s director of football administration, on final details pertaining to language.
“They knew what we were trying to accomplish,” Hannula said. “We knew what they were trying to accomplish. We both were able to achieve that.”
“I’m very blessed and honored that the organization and (owner) Mark Davis have that love for me,” Penn said. “I’m going to be able to live out my childhood dream and retire a Raider. I’m really excited.”
Penn, 34, skipped all of training camp seeking a new deal.
McKenzie, in the first player holdout of his six-year tenure, asserted the franchise would not negotiate with a player under contract who was away from the team. On Aug. 23, Penn reported to the club. He said that he wanted to be there for teammates, reasserting Friday that a Super Bowl experience is “priceless,” and also felt assured that, by being there, a deal could follow.
The Raiders waited until after Sunday’s season opener versus the Tennessee Titans before making a concerted effort to negotiate. The contract quickly developed from there; much of the basic framework was established early this week.
Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GehlkenNFL on Twitter.
Raiders O-line under contract through multiple seasons
Left tackle Donald Penn: 2019
Left guard Kelechi Osemele: 2020
Center Rodney Hudson: 2019
Right guard Gabe Jackson: 2022
Right tackle Marshall Newhouse: 2018
