It’s no mistake that Oakland Raiders rookie linebacker Khalil Mack’s locker sits right next to veteran defensive end Justin Tuck’s stall. The team believes Mack can be the cornerstone of the defense for years to come and want him to learn as much as possible from the two-time Super Bowl champion.

It appears to be working.

Mack is one of the leading contenders for Defensive Rookie of the Year and has been one of the few positive signs the Raiders can point to this season. The fifth overall pick in the draft, Mack has 56 tackles (40 solos) and recorded his first career sack Sunday against San Diego.

He and veteran safety Charles Woodson have been the two constant playmakers on a defense that has improved over the past month. Oakland heads into Thursday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs ranked 18th overall, including 12th against the pass.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Mack has the fifth-most tackles among rookie linebackers this season. Baltimore’s C.J. Mosley leads the group with 87 tackles, followed by Buffalo’s Preston Brown (73), Minnesota’s Anthony Barr (62), San Francisco’s Chris Borland (57) and Mack.

Tuck, one of a handful of veteran free agents signed by the Raiders in the offseason for their leadership and experience, has two sacks and 27 tackles -- not nearly what the team had hoped for. His work in mentoring Mack, however, has been priceless.

That’s why when the coaching staff laid out its plans for where each player would fit in the locker room, the Raiders made it a point to put Mack next to Tuck.

“It’s not a coincidence,” Oakland interim coach Tony Sparano said. “It was something that was thought out. I had a vision for people that I wanted around people, and what you’re trying to do is stimulate conversation within the locker room, and conversation where a young player might learn from somebody else. In that situation it was absolutely, 100 percent, ‘Let’s find a way to get him near Justin,’ because that’s a conversation that you want to take place every day. Those guys sit in there talking about football, and Khalil being able to learn a little something from a veteran player like that, and that’s why I did what I did.”

Ironically, Mack has not made himself available to the media this week despite finally notching his first sack. He was scheduled to talk on Monday but was not in the locker room when reporters were allowed in and was likewise missing on Tuesday.