Las Vegas Raiders: 50 greatest players in franchise history

Of all the players active on the Raiders roster entering 2018, the closest thing to an all-timer would have to be defensive end, Khalil Mack. When it comes to the best outside pass rushers in the league, the two best play in the AFC West: Mack and Von Miller of the Denver Broncos. One would think this healthy rivalry brings out the best in each other.

Mack somehow wasn’t recruited by big schools in the ACC or SEC. He ended up at Buffalo of all places in the MAC, where he dominated and went No. 5 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. Beginning in  2015, Mack would emerge as one of the best players in his position group. He would make his first trip to the Pro Bowl and earn his first All-Pro first-team nod.

In the Raiders’ best season in over a decade, Mack would be even better. He not only made his second trip to the Pro Bowl and his second All-Pro first team, Mack would be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The Raiders made the AFC Playoffs for the first time since 2002 that winter but lost in the AFC Wild Card Game to the Houston Texans.

Mack would make his third straight trip to the Pro Bowl in 2017. However, the Raiders struggled and he did not make his third straight All-Pro first team. To date, Mack has recorded 231 tackles, 72 assists and 40.5 quarterback sacks in just four seasons. Mack has only played in 64 regular-season games for the Raiders. We could be looking at the greatest pass rusher in Raiders history. At the very worst, he’s the best to do it for the Silver and Black since Howie Long.