Las Vegas Raiders: 15 best pass rushers of all-time

Best pash rushers in Las Vegas Raiders history: 4. Anthony Smith

Time for the most controversial player on this list, and someone I debated leaving off of it. Before discussing Anthony Smith’s impact on the field as a member of the Raiders, it is best to preface all of this with a clarification.

Smith is currently in prison serving three life sentences without the possibility of parole. In 2015, Smith was found guilty of murder, kidnapping and torturing not one, but three different people. Needless to say, Smith is not someone who should be celebrated.

However, simply looking at his football career, Smith was a very talented pass rusher. Obviously that doesn’t excuse his transgressions, but those did come after his career as a Raider.

Out of the University of Arizona, Smith was drafted in the first round, 11th overall by the Raiders in 1991. He went on to spend the next, and only, seven years of his career with the Silver and Black.

In his rookie season, Smith notched an impressive 10.5 sacks. He supported that with back-to-back double-digit sack totals of 13 and 12.5, respectively. After his first three seasons, he received a big money contract extension which could be the source of Smith’s downfall.

Over the course of his 98 games with the team, Smith finished with 57.5 sacks, 228 tackles and 11 forced fumbles. He was a wrecking ball that left destruction in his wake. It is a shame that his life went in the direction it did after football. He was, without a doubt, one of the most dominant pass rushers the Raiders have ever had.