NFL Week 1: Top 10 Storylines To Follow
By Erik Lambert
August 30, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) during the second quarter in a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at O.co Coliseum. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 30-23. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Aldon Smith and Khalil Mack
There is no question the Oakland Raiders are looking to an optimistic future. Khalil Mack looks like the next great pass rusher in the NFL. So the next piece on the agenda would’ve been to find somebody the team could put across from him to make the defense even more deadly.
GM Reggie McKenzie decided took a rather aggressive, some might say reckless avenue to do so by signing embattled outside linebacker Aldon Smith to a one-year deal. The 25-year old has been arrested five times since his rookie year in 2011, and was just charged with three misdemeanors for his latest issues.
At the same time, he also has 49.5 career sacks and nearly impossible to block when he’s rolling. Oakland is clearly hoping punishment isn’t too severe because getting him across from Mack would be a game changer.
Next: Winston and Mariota