ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Two of the Oakland Raiders' big-ticket free agents play on the defensive side of the ball in pass-rushing outside linebacker Bruce Irvin and cornerback Sean Smith.
So Raiders coach Jack Del Rio, who spent 11 seasons as an NFL linebacker, might feel a certain kinship with his two new players.
At last week’s NFL owners meetings in Boca Raton, Florida, Del Rio gave scouting reports on them.
Irvin, who had 22 sacks in four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, figures to play opposite All-Pro Khalil Mack.