With The First Pick
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Oakland Raiders Should Move Bruce Irvin Inside

By Carl Cockerham

Nov 2, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) dances after making a defensive stop during the second half against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Oakland 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) dances after making a defensive stop during the second half against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Oakland 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) strip sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) in the end zone in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) strip sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) in the end zone in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

No Need at SAM

The Raiders don’t need Irvin to play the SAM linebacker position because they already have Mack there. You don’t take the best player at his position in the NFL and move him for another guy. He did make All-Pro as a defensive end too since he played the position in the Raiders’ sub-packages.

But Mack wasn’t as successful when he played the LEO position (hybid DE/OLB) going against tackles every play. The Raiders don’t want to lose the production Mack gave the Raiders at the SAM position. Mack destroyed tight ends on a regular basis, making his fair share of tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Irvin was solid as a SAM but doesn’t have the power to be a playmaker at that position. He even knows it as he doesn’t even want to play SAM, instead wanting to play a position where he can use his speed more. That was part of the reason why he left the Seahawks to come play for the Silver and Black.

He told SiriusXM NFL Radio via Raiders,com, “SAM outside linebacker is cool, but you can do your job the whole game at SAM linebacker and you’ll have two tackles. I just want to be utilized more and get put in positions more to make plays. I really think Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton, Jr., are going to do a great job of really allowing me to do that.”

Next: Fits at MIKE or WILL

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