ALAMEDA – The Raiders are closing in on a two-year contract extension through the 2019 season with Donald Penn, NFL Network reported Wednesday afternoon. That's what he wanted and didn't get in July, when the Raiders left tackle missed training camp in a contract holdout.
Penn returned on Aug. 23 without a new deal. Penn sacrificed leverage for proper prep time and teammates that were counting on him to perform.
The Raiders also told Penn a new deal would come in time if he reported. He believed them. That faith has nearly been rewarded.
A league source told NBC Sports California on Tuesday that the Raiders and Penn were talking contract, and this week was big in that process.
Penn was set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end. He loves playing here and wants to continue that a while even at 34 years old.
Penn had certainly earned a raise. He currently has a $5.8 million base salary in 2017 with $750,000 in incentives worked into the deal, a total far lower than some of the NFL's best tackles. Penn played like one last year, giving up just one sack while proving an excellent run blocker.
