Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack Agents 'In an Arms Race' Amid Contract Negotiations

As members of the 2014 NFL draft class, Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack and Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald are set to hit free agency in March 2019. The players' respective agents may be using the opportunity to earn bragging rights.

The MMQB's Albert Breer spoke to an agent who said Mack and Donald's representatives are "in an arms race" regarding their next contracts. The agent also told Breer "looking like they won" is a primary concern for those involved in the negotiations.

The Rams have been busy this offseason, adding Brandin Cooks, Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. Like Donald and Mack, Cooks is in the last year of his rookie contract, so he's due for a pay raise in 2019.

Rams general manager Les Snead indicated the team has factored a potential Donald extension into everything it has done so far.

"Again, we've got good dialogue with their agents. I'll keep all of that in-house, but none of it affects Aaron Donald," Snead said earlier this month, per Rams Wire's Cameron DaSilva. "He's one of 53. As I've said plenty of times before, we've got that budgeted into the budget. We didn't do all of this and forget about him, for sure."

If Donald's agent is looking for a deal in excess of what Mack receives from the Raiders, the Rams may have to pay up in a big way. NFL Network's Steve Wyche reported Tuesday that Mack wants $65 million guaranteed:

According to Spotrac, only 10 current players had at least $65 million in practical guarantees in their most recent contracts, and of that group, eight are quarterbacks. Suh and Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller are the two exceptions, and the Miami Dolphins cut Suh three years into his six-year deal.

Speaking to Wyche, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie acknowledged Mack's extension is "going to be a big contract" but that the team wants to "make [Mack] a Raider for life."