What Aldon Smith Suspension Means For Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders fans learned on Tuesday that Aldon Smith received a one year suspension from the NFL  for alleged violations of the substance abuse policy.

Per ESPN, the suspension seemingly stemmed from his August 6th arrest involving alcohol. For the Raiders, both short and long-term, the news of Smith’s suspension is bad in many ways.

The Raiders signed Smith to a fairly team friendly contract; the deal involved only a 1.25 million dollar base, with production and playing incentives that could take it up to 8 million. Oakland knew the risks involved, and probably assumed a suspension was coming eventually. They hoped to get at least a season out of him in a Raider uniform, and the production he gave while there is evidence why.

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In nine games for the Raiders this season Smith recorded 3.5 sacks and 8 QB hits. For a team struggling to produce pass rushing pressure, Smith’s production was a good sign. If given a full season, there is a chance he would have reached his salary escalators with 10 sacks and accumulated game time played.

Smith’s suspension will have a two-fold rippling effect for the Oakland Raiders.

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In the short-term, it really is a crippling blow to the front seven for Oakland, especially when you consider the earlier loss of veteran Justin Tuck to season ending injury. Rookie Mario Edwards Jr., who has shown he is getting better as the season progresses, will have an even bigger role now. Khalil Mack will need to truly be elite, as he will undoubtedly face double teams every play.

The Raiders defense will need back up’s to take starter roles; that isn’t something that they can assume will happen. To be blunt, the defense for Oakland was the last group on the team that could afford this type of loss in 2015. They weren’t playing great collectively even with Smith on the team.

With Aldon Smith gone, the scoreboard at the Oakland Coliseum may need to replace some bulbs in the visitors score box due to over use.

Long-term, there are a lot of unknowns for Smith’s and the Raiders in terms of a relationship. Both the organization and Smith are saying all the right things when it comes to their mutual future. Both want the other after the suspension is over. But that won’t likely happen until halfway through next year, and the Raiders can’t wait for Smith to come back. The draft or free agency could take that option away.

Smith wants to be a Raider in 2016, but Oakland won’t be there with an open checkbook. If another, more desperate team offers him more money, will Smith be able to walk away from it? Time will tell what will happen. Most importantly, Aldon Smith needs to stay out of trouble. Another violation during his suspension ala Josh Gordon would make  any 2016 reunion a moot point.

Oakland’s 2015 gamble on Smith paid decent dividends when you consider they paid him in the neighborhood of 3.5 million for his services. Will they double down in 2016 with the risks Smith brings with him? Will they need him? What will happen now in 2015 with Smith gone?

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For the Oakland Raiders short and long-term future, Smith’s suspension could spell an end to their playoff chances unless someone else can step up quickly to shore up his position.