Comparing Oakland Raiders Linebackers to past greats

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) lines up against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 47-14. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Second in a weekly series looking at new draftees and young players.

The Oakland Raiders are accumulating playmakers and these young linebackers are ready to breakout.

In the 2015 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders waited to pick a LB until the fifth round when they took two, Ben Heeney (Kansas) and Neiron Ball (Florida). Oakland had already picked up presumed starting MLB Curtis Lofton and former Superbowl MVP Malcolm Smith in Free Agency to help Khalil Mack and Sio Moore, so any LBs they picked up in the draft were going to mostly for depth and special teams. Aside from WR, TE and possibly QB, the Linebacker corps is likely the strongest position group on the team. We’ll look at each player expected to play significant minutes, look at their strengths/weaknesses, see how they may be used and then compare them to past Raider greats to see “Best Case Scenarios”…

Next: Raiders Comparisons: Khalil Mack