With The First Pick
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Oakland Raiders With Big Statistical Years Coming

By Carl Cockerham

Jun 15, 2016; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr at minicamp press conference at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2016; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr at minicamp press conference at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) attempts to get past Green Bay Packers tackle Bryan Bulaga (75) during an NFL football game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) attempts to get past Green Bay Packers tackle Bryan Bulaga (75) during an NFL football game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Khalil Mack

Remember when Carr said OLB Khalil Mack would have 30 sacks this year?

That may be a little far-fetched but it isn’t unreasonable to believe that he can get to 20 in 2016. After only four of them as a rookie on a horrible front-seven, Mack improved, got some help, and got to 15 in 2015. One of the biggest helps he got was 2015 second-round pick Mario Edwards Jr.

Edwards started 2015 slow but once he got going, he took double teams away from Mack. From Week 8 to Week 15, Mack had 12 sacks in eight games with Edwards in the lineup. In a 16-game season at that rate, Mack would have had 24-sacks season with a Healthy Edwards.

Mack didn’t have any sacks in the final two weeks of the season with Edwards out. Thanks to God above, Edwards is back after a scary neck injury caused him to miss the last two weeks of 2015. Mack has a scary combination of speed, power, and moves that get him to the QB.

He will improve but all he needs is some help in order not to be double and triple teamed. Having a DE like Edwards inside of him takes double-teams away and leaves QBs with no place to step up. And having offseason acquisition Bruce Irvin on the other side takes even more attention away.

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