Raiders Rumors: 'Up in the Air' If Donald Penn Gets New Contract or Is Traded

Donald Penn's status with the Oakland Raiders is reportedly littered with question marks as he continues to recover from foot surgery.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, "the Raiders are asking [Penn] to take a small pay cut from his $9 million salary" and, as a result, it is still "very much up in the air" if he will renegotiate his contract or get traded before the start of the 2018 season. 

Penn and the Raiders agreed to a two-year, $21 million extension last September. The deal includes an $8.3 million cap hit in 2018 but no guaranteed money in 2019. As a result, the Raiders can cut him next offseason and save $10.3 million. 

If the Raiders choose to cut him before then, they will have to eat $3 million in dead cap. 

Should Oakland pursue that route with the 35-year-old, first-round pick Kolton Miller would project as his replacement at left tackle. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Michael Gehlken, Miller "has been the team's best tackle this camp."

However, striking a compromise with Penn would allow the Raiders to roll out a front five that features Penn anchoring Derek Carr's blindside with Miller stationed at right tackle.