Raiders' Penn: Mack trade 'took a toll' on players

It appears the Oakland Raiders' trade of star pass-rusher Khalil Mack wasn't tough for only the fans.

Appearing on "NFL Total Access," veteran offensive tackle Donald Penn said the team struggled after Mack was dealt in September.

"No matter what nobody says, we tried to overcome it," Penn said, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "But when you trade your best player away in the beginning of the year, it takes a toll on guys. Whether they say it or not. We fought through it. We tried to stay together. It was a tough season.

"Khalil Mack is one of my good friends. I'm happy he did what he did. But I knew kind of when I saw Aaron Donald sign that deal, I kind of knew in the back of my head that we weren't going to be able to sign Khalil 'cause all the money he was going to ask for. I knew what (Jon) Gruden was coming from cause I might know different cause I been in the league for so long. I know it's a business."

Penn empathizes with his head coach, though, and stands behind him heading into next season.

"At the end of the day I've been in the league for 13 years," he said. "I know a business. That's a business decision that's made. I'm behind Gruden. Guys are behind Gruden. We're ready to get to work and turn this thing around."

The 35-year-old blocker is due to make $8.35 million in the final year of his contract. The longtime left tackle shifted to the right side in 2018 after Oakland drafted Kolton Miller in the first round of last year's draft.

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