5. Inheriting a star in the making?
The Raiders made a bunch of desperate moves in free agency last offseason, signing veterans Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley to expensive deals to try and quickly revamp the defense. Those were whiffs. However, McKenzie did find one superstar in Khalil Mack, the first-round pick out of Buffalo whom the team selected fifth overall.
Mack finished his rookie year with 59 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 3.0 pass defenses and a forced fumble, and is among the favorites for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014. A potential tandem of Del Rio and Smith coaching the talented outside linebacker could help Mack flourish into an All-Pro before our eyes.
