Khalil Mack Automatically Improves Oakland Raiders

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I said it back on March 8th, “So NFL general managers in the words of the incomparable (Spike Lee Do The Right Thing) and draft Khalil Mack if you get the chance”. That was the last sentence articulated back in my March 8th article about Khalil Mack (click here), the Oakland Raiders drafted themselves a player who they can build their defense around for years to come. They usually get it wrong but they hit the nail on the head with this one drafting the former Buffalo Bull at #5 in the NFL Draft.

When you’re building a defense in the NFL you need disruptive playmakers who can swing the outcome and momentum of games. When you play in the AFC West and have to play Peyton Manning and Phillip Rivers twice a year having playmakers becomes even more imperative. Khalil Mack brings immense versatility, athleticism and pass rushing ability to an already improved Raiders defense. He’s one of those players that will produce in any defensive scheme whether it be in the 3-4 or 4-3 defense. The way you use him in those systems will differentiate. In the 3-4 he will be used as an edge rusher to get to the quarterback. The Raiders could use him in the 3-4 like the Ravens do with Terrell Suggs in Baltimore Ravens. When Oakland lines up in the 4-3 you could play Mack exclusively at the defensive end or outside line backer position and he will produce at a high level. He’s the type of player coaches love and dream about having on their team.

I fully expect Mack to come in and produce right away for the Raiders. He’s a smart football player surrounded by proven talents eager to help turnaround a franchise mired in turmoil for many years now. Barring any injuries there’s no reason Mack shouldn’t come in and be that disruptive force the organization expects him to be. He has 100 tackle/10+ sacks potential this year. Either way I think he’s the best defensive player in the draft (Sorry Jadeveon)

To add a guy like Mack to the Raiders defense is huge. This is a team that ranked 28th in pass defense just last season giving up 255.8 yards per game, they were putrid in that particular department. This season they have loaded up on pass rushers adding guys such as Justin Tuck, Lamar Woodley and Antonio Smith. Adding a young guy like this and surrounding him with other proven pass rushers like Tuck and Woodley should put him in a great place to succeed no matter how the Raiders decide to use him.