Oakland Raiders: Bruce Irvin Better Fit Than Malik Jackson

With $72 million in cap space going into free agency, Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie appears to be just as frugal as ever opting for LB Bruce Irvin over DE Malik Jackson.

Should the former Seahawk sign, as has been widely reported, the Oakland Raiders will have filled their pass-rush need without taking on a huge cap hit.

Jackson, the former Bronco reportedly headed to the Jacksonville Jaguars, is said to have agreed to a six-year, $90 million deal. Irvin reportedly agreed to a four-year deal that maxes out at $37 million.

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Both players have a championship pedigree and Super Bowl rings to match, but Irvin has been slightly more productive than Jackson over the first four seasons of their NFL careers.

The 26-year-old Jackson has racked up 100 total tackles, 14 sacks with 15 passes defended. The 28-year-old Irvin has 87 tackles, 22 sacks, 7 passes defended, 3 INTs, and 2 touchdowns.

It was somewhat surprising for Irvin to leave Seattle when rumors had it that he’d take a pay cut to stay with the NFC contender. But, a pay hike and a reunion with former coach Ken Norton Jr should have him in Silver and Black. And, in defensive coordinator Norton’s scheme, Irvin would take on a similar, versatile role. Irvin would likely continue to play OLB and put his hand down as a defense end, much like the Raiders Pro-Bowl LB/DE Khalil Mack. And here is where the value of Irvin far outweighs that of Jackson in Oakland’s scheme.

While Jackson has been productive at DE, though not by any means a star at the position, Irvin has the ability to drop into coverage, grab interceptions and cover backs out of the backfield. Irvin can also set the edge and rush the passer. Adding Irvin sort of gives Oakland bookends. But, not in the old school sense like when the New York Sack Exchange DEs Mark Gastineau and Joe Klecko used to sprint to the quarterback in the ’80s.

Rather, the Irvin-Mack pairing takes away certain offensive strategies from opponents.

With Irvin, the Silver and Black’s 4-3 alignment could basically have five starting linebackers on the field at any given time — Mack, Irvin, Malcom Smith, Ben Heeney, and Curtis Lofton (presumably) — all of whom can effectively cover, play the run, or rush the passer, with the exception of Lofton.

Dec 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) reacts to a penalty against the Raiders during action against the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Last season, opposing offenses would occasionally force Mack into coverage to get him off the line of scrimmage, and off their QB’s back. It’s the same strategy used against the NY Giants when Lawrence Taylor was terrorizing the league, basically. The strategy of moving the pass-rushing threat off the line won’t carry much weight against this Raiders potential 5-linebacker makeup.

Taking Irvin at an average of $9.5 million with all he brings to the table, versus Jackson at an average of $15 million at only DE is a no-brainer.

Amazingly, McKenzie will have taken the more productive and better fitting player to fill a need at $5.5 million less per year. That surplus could be used toward rebuilding a sound secondary or addressing the running back situation.

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Clearly, Reggie McKenzie and the Oakland Raiders are getting a player that better fits their system and increases their chances of a playoff run in 2016.

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