The first few weeks of the 2016 NFL league year have been good to the Oakland Raiders. Smart free agent signing followed smart free agent signing, with the deal that will keep tackle Donald Penn in the black and silver a nice big bow on top of the whole thing. Of course, there's plenty of time left until the actual start of the regular season, let alone OTA's and training camp, so the work that Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie has done so far will soon be supplemented by other moves.
And while most teams have turned their attention fully to the 2016 NFL Draft, there's at least one more important piece of business that McKenzie is monitoring.
Aldon Smith, the former San Francisco 49ers linebacker, jettisoned in the wake of a bevy of off-the-field incidents and who then jumped across the bay to join the Raiders, remains an unrestricted free agent. McKenzie, speaking to reporters at the NFL's annual owner's meetings this week, said that Smith remains in the Raiders plans, but added that he's not in any hurry to re-sign the explosive, but troubled talent.
First, he wants to make sure that Smith is making the kinds of decisions that will ensure he remain on the field next season and beyond.
"The conversations have been good," McKenzie said Monday. "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."
Smith will remain on the league's reserve/suspended list until November at the earliest after he was suspended for a full year due to violating the NFL's policy on substance abuse.
Despite his ban, Smith is eligible to sign with any team. Prior to the announcement of his suspension, McKenzie indicated that Smith was a player the team hoped to keep long-term.
It seems that feeling hasn't changed.
At just 26, the former first-round pick and First-Team All-Pro remains a high-upside player with a potentially bright NFL future. If he can keep his nose clean for the time that he's away from the league, adding him to a Raider defense that already boasts Khalil Mack and the recently-added Bruce Irvin would mean an embarrassment of pass rushing riches for Oakland defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.
Of course, expecting Smith to keep himself out of trouble is an iffy proposition at best. He's been arrested five times since entering the NFL, and three times since 2012. His latest brush with the law involved allegations of DUI, hit and run, and vandalism and led directly to his release by the Niners.
Smith signed a one-year deal with the Raiders and played relatively well, collecting 3.5 sacks in nine games in Oakland before he was suspended by the league.
For his career, Smith has 47.5 sacks.
