Aldon Smith remains in Oakland Raiders future plans

Aldon Smith remains in the Oakland Raiders future plans even if general manager Reggie McKenzie has revealed he is in no rush to sign the suspended Smith.

Throughout the Oakland Raiders free agency additions, one player has remained as a potential X-Factor during the process. Suspended outside linebacker Aldon Smith, who had his contract with the Raiders voided after his year-long suspension, leaving many question marks surrounding the true potential of this current Oakland roster. As his return or his potential to sign elsewhere has been viewed as one of the Raiders biggest unanswered questions the team has left after its big free agency haul.

Smith is currently an unrestricted free agent who is now free to sign anywhere after the league decided to allow him to sign during free agency rather than when he is officially reinstated by the league, but the Raiders are viewed as the favorites to secure his services. After all, general manager Reggie McKenzie and the Raiders brought him in last season in a move that was viewed as a success for two sides at the time as Smith was waiting to be given his punishment for offseason transgressions at the time.

Since that suspension, the Raiders have been adamant that they view Smith as a player who is a big part of their plans going forward as it appears they want the proven linebacker back on their roster the minute he is allowed to suit up again. McKenzie making it clear again at the NFL Owners Meetings, continuing to tell the Bay Area media that he still has Smith in his plans even if he is no rush to officially sign the linebacker just yet.

Citing Smith’s ongoing recovery from his past personal struggles as he seeks reinstatement from the league, McKenzie told CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco that his conversations with Smith have been good and he is encouraging him to get his life right. Taking a slow approach in bringing Smith officially back into the fold even if their conversations have been positive for now.

From CSN Bay Area:

"General manager Reggie McKenzie said he is in no rush to re-sign Smith, 26, as the Raiders want to be certain the talented pass-rusher is making the correct decisions off the field.“The conversations have been good,” McKenzie toldCSNBayArea.com on Monday at the NFL owners meetings. “Really, it’s encouraging him as a person to continue to get his life right. And if you’re going to commit to this thing, you have to go through some steps. And that’s what he’s going through right now.”"

From this most recent report, it continues to appear that Smith and the Raiders are on the right path to the linebacker coming back to contribute to the team in mid-November. Smith has said he valued the Raiders giving him a support system before his suspension and with the team on the rise it looks like things are on track for the veteran to make his comeback in the midst of an Oakland playoff push.