When the Seattle Seahawks let Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith walk in free agency, it was widely believed that it was because he was looking for an increased role on another defense. Which when the Oakland Raiders signed him to a two-year, $7 million deal, they did just that.
For the Raiders, it was definitely an affordable deal to make, as Reggie McKenzie had plenty of cap room at his disposal. And with a need at the position, signing a Super Bowl MVP who was still quite young seemed like a no-brainer.
And on Smith’s end, the contract was a clear indicator that he wanted to bet on himself, and then cash in on a bigger deal later if he performed at a high level.