So as I was getting up from bed and about to do my morning routine before finishing up and posting my regular season preview for the 2015 Raiders, I checked on my phone and my notifications blew up with the news that the Raiders have signed Aldon Smith to a one year deal. Bleacher Report confirmed it, Yahoo! Sports confirmed it, then NFL.com and ESPN broke the story and my first impression was "wow, holy *expletive!*" Even though it was this late in the free agency/waiver period, I never thought that Reggie McKenzie would take a chance at a guy with multiple red flags. This is a type of move I never saw coming and it felt like Al Davis' ghost possessed Reggie McKenzie for a day and triggered this move.
On official word, the Raiders have signed have signed Aldon Smith to a one year contract worth $8 million according to Levi Damien of Silver and Black Pride. He reportedly received offers for more money, but he turned them down and wanted to stay in the Bay Area. And how amusing that a few minutes after Aldon Smith signed with the Raiders, the Santa Clara DA charged him with three misdemeanors on hit-and-run, DUI, and vandalism he committed back in August. Will the NFL suspend him immediately? I don't know, but I've heard that it'll take a year for the court to sort this out and he could face suspension next season rather than now.
This is a big if. If Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton, Jr. can get Aldon Smith to overcome his off-field troubles and focus on football, this signing changes the dimension of how this defense is portrayed. Because teams are going to have big trouble to try and contain Khalil Mack. If opposing offenses dare to double or triple team Mack, it leaves Aldon Smith open for opportunities to sack the quarterback. So, basically this signing means the Raiders got help for Khalil Mack for cheap! Again however, the key here is that Aldon Smith needs to stay out of trouble and if he can keep himself clean, somebody arrest Reggie McKenzie because he just committed a highway robbery with this signing. Even though it's a one year deal and considering there will be distracting headlines from the media in regards to the off-field troubles and the charges pending in court, the idea of having Mack, Tuck, Edwards, Jr., Dan Williams, Justin "Jelly" Ellis, and now Aldon Smith on that front seven, this Raiders defense is going to cause a lot of havoc to every offensive line that stands in their way.
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