LB Khalil Mack looks good in Raiders gear! Welcome @46Mack! pic.twitter.com/8HbvVhsY9k
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) May 9, 2014
In an unexpected turn of events, Reggie McKenzie and the Oakland Raiders were able to stand pat and let Khalil Mack fall to them. It was known that the Raiders were very interested in the linebacker from Buffalo, but not many believed he’d get passed over by four teams. But after a couple of surprising picks, with Greg Robinson going second to St. Louis and the Jaguars taking Blake Bortles, suddenly the Raiders found themselves in a great position.
No matter what happened with the No. 4 pick, the Raiders would have a shot at either Sammy Watkins or Mack. After the Buffalo Bills traded up to grab Watkins, the Raiders didn’t hesitate. With a defensive-minded head coach in Dennis Allen and a young and highly regarded defensive coordinator in Jason Tarver, the pick makes a lot of sense for the Raiders. They needed a playmaker on defense and that’s exactly what they got. Mack can rush the passer as well as drop into coverage very well. He is not an elite run defender, but he’s no slouch in that department either.
- 2010: 40 solo tackles, 14.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 10 PD, 2 FF
- 2011: 38 solo tackles, 20.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 3 PD, 5 FF, 1 INT
- 2012: 52 solo tackles, 21 TFL, 8 sacks, 2 PD, 4 FF
- 2013: 56 solo tackles, 19 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 7 PD, 5 FF, 3 INT, 2 TD
There have been questions about whether or not Mack fits with the Raiders scheme-wise, but that shouldn’t be a problem. The Raiders are a base 4-3 team but they use a multiple front, mixing in 3-4 looks now and then. Mack is a versatile and athletic player , which makes him ideal for coaches who want to get creative. The Raiders and their fans have got to be extremely excited with how the first round played out.
RAIDERS DRAFT PICKS
- Second round: Derek Carr (36)
- Third round: Gabe Jackson (81)
- Fourth round: Justin Ellis (107)
- Fourth round: Keith McGill (116)
