Dec 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack (52) is defended by Buffalo Bills left tackle Cordy Glenn (77) at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Despite their 3-13 record in 2014, the Oakland Raiders’ are a team on the upswing, piling up good players. The Raiders aren’t known to have top 100 football players on their team but they now have two. They aren’t known for making the best pick of late either but G.M. Reggie McKenzie has changed that.
He really got it right by picking outside linebacker Khalil Mack No. 5 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. And according to Pro Football Focus he was the best 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL. Mack didn’t win the political rookie of the year award because he didn’t have sexy stats as Pro Football Focus simply grades you on assignment and execution.
The voters for the Top-100 football players are players themselves and the vote on players on the same merit. So while Aaron Donald was given Defensive Rookie of the Year for his stats Mack is the highest rated rookie defensive player. And as far as his position goes, there are only five linebackers ranked above him on the list.
New Raiders middle linebacker Curtis Lofton used words like “monster to describe him at minicamp. Malcolm Smith, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, who have great linebackers, told Raiders,com, “He’s one of a kind in the league, you know, there wasn’t anybody like him in Seattle, he’s definitely his own beast.
And don’t worry about his sack numbers, (four sacks in 2014) he will be put in position to get his in 2015. Mack didn’t get that many opportunities in 2014 because the Raiders didn’t have many linebackers that can cover and play the run. But this year, they brought in a few linebackers that should be able to cover and play the run, turning Mack loose at the Leo position.
Look out NFL!
Mack is coming!