Oakland Raiders: Can Khalil Mack break the NFL sack record?

Oakland Raiders’ Khalil Mack, 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, sets his sights on shattering the NFL sack record.

On July 19, during an interview with Mad Dog Sports Radio, Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr made some predictions about the upcoming season. Specifically, Carr projected that the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack would get 30 sacks.

While Mack might have been surprised by Carr’s statement, he did not disagree during a recent interview (per the AP Pro 32).

"That’s the number I shoot for, but I didn’t want him to tell everybody else. But at the same time, D.C., he knows how hard we work, what kind of work we put in, and he knows what I want but at the same time. Realistically, we just want to get the record at least."

That will be a challenge, as Michael Strahan’s record of 22.5 is double Mack’s 2016 total of 11. It should not be ignored, however, how great Khalil Mack has become at rushing the passer. Though Mack’s 11 sacks might have only been the ranked the eighth best in the NFL last season, he may not be as far away from the record as many would believe.

The average age of the previous 11 players in the NFL was 26 years old, the exact age that Mack will be during this upcoming season. The average number of sacks during the season prior to those players getting 20 sacks or more was 11.7, a mark matching Mack’s total of 11 during the 2016 season. These statistics make a case that Mack is primed to make a run at the record.

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There are other factors to suggest Mack’s sack numbers leaping. Oakland’s recent draft improved their secondary unit. They drafted safety Obi Melifonwu out of Connecticut in the second round. Melifonwu is an extremely versatile prospect who will be able to handle different roles on this defense.

The Raiders will also have first-round pick Gareon Conley at cornerback, after the grand jury decided not to charge him earlier this week. These two players will be athleticism to Oakland’s secondary that they missed last season. An improved secondary will cause opposing quarterbacks to hold the ball for longer, and therefore benefit Mack’s sack numbers.

Making a run at the sack record is challenging and Mack would need a lot to go right for him. For starters, he has to stay healthy, which is never a lock in this league. He also needs the rest of Oakland’s pass rushers to step up to prevent double teams. As Carr said earlier in his interview, he may also need some help from the referees in regards to holding calls.

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With that said, there is no reason that a player as dominant as Khalil Mack could not make a serious run at the record. It seems fighting for Mack to make another leap into superstardom anyways.