SUNDAY, 8:11am: The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport passes along a bit of news on the Smith signing this morning (via Twitter). We already knew that Smith chose the Raiders’ offer over competing contracts from the Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Rams, and Rapoport says those other clubs actually offered more money than Oakland. Smith, however, wanted to stay close to his support system in the Bay Area. Rapoport also reports that the Raiders are confident in the information they have on Smith’s criminal charges, which suggests that Smith may not be facing significant punishment from the judicial system or, consequently, from the league.
SATURDAY, 11:25am:Â ESPN’s Field Yates has slightly different contract numbers for Smith (Twitter link), reporting that the base salary is worth $1.25MM. He also notes that there is $2.75MM in sack incentives and $4MM in per-game bonuses, both of which differ from Rapoport’s tweet.
FRIDAY, 5:06 pm: Smith’s deal with the Raiders is worth up to $8MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). It includes a $1MM base salary, $5MM in 53-man roster bonuses, and $2MM in sack incentives.
12:47pm: The Raiders have officially signed Smith, cutting defensive end Lavar Edwards to create a spot on the roster, according to a team release.
11:16am: After being released last month by the 49ers, outside linebacker Aldon Smith has found a new home across the bay. According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter), the Raiders have agreed to sign Smith to a one-year contract.
When he’s healthy and on the field, Smith can be one of the league’s most effective pass rushers, as he exhibited during his first two years in the NFL. As a part-time player in his rookie season, the linebacker recorded 14 sacks, and he piled up another 19.5 as a starter in 2012, en route to a spot on the All-Pro first team.
However, Smith’s off-field issues have limited his production since then — he missed nearly half the Niners’ games over the last two seasons after entering a rehabilitation facility in 2013 and serving a nine-game suspension in 2014. Most recently, Smith was arrested by Santa Clara police on hit and run, DUI, and vandalism charges, though when he was released from jail, the outside linebacker disputed the fact that he had been driving under the influence.
The incident is the latest in a series of off-field run-ins for Smith, who has had DUI arrests in the past, and it was the last straw for the 49ers. The team parted ways with him in early August, with GM Trent Baalke issuing the following statement: “This organization has tried very hard to help Aldon fight his issues. Although he is no longer a member of this team, our support and concern for him will continue.”
Cole reported earlier this week that at least four teams had interest in signing Smith, but things were still in a holding pattern at that point, since the NFL had yet to make a decision on possible discipline after his latest legal situation. As Cole noted, if Smith were to sign with a club and then received a year-long suspension, that would be a PR embarrassment for both the team and the league.
The fact that the Raiders are willing to bring Smith aboard suggests that the club either has an idea of what his potential suspension might look like or is simply willing to roll the dice on a talented but troubled player. It’s also not clear how long the NFL’s investigation will take, so Smith could potentially play until the league announces its decision. If he’s able to stay on the field for the majority of the 2015 season, the Raiders should have a very strong pass rush this year, with the ex-Niner joining Khalil Mack and Justin Tuck in Oakland.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Smith chose the Raiders over the Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Rams.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Whats point in punishing playes when other teams give them what they want..
Why did we release him god dang it!
We released him because he missed almost half of our games in the past two years
Idc care if if missed 10 games its Aldon smith
It’s about to go down
Outstanding!! What an addition this is to the D. Norton and Del Rio can keep him in line.
Damn the Bucs need some pass rushers.
The Bucs could have really used Aldon. Hope he holds it together going forward.
And he wont play for 5 yrs so…..
Good luck with him playing much, I’m sure he will face a suspension of some sort. Raiders must be desperate!!
Nice troll
Salty
Uh oh AFC West
Raiders defense will be unstoppable. Still need secondary help but if the quarterback is hurried every single time that will definitely help the development of the corners.
Hope he gets the psychiatric help that he needs
Imagine the Rams defense if they signed him
This is why the NFL is so screwed up. This guys diesnt deserve anything.
Too many second chances
You are who you are, a scumbag
We all deserve a second chance
I agree, but this is like chance number three or four. At this point in his life, he should worry more about getting treatment for his alcohol abuse and less about playing football.
Good choice, he’ll b surrounded by good players and he’ll have a new sense of direction.
Khalil Mack and Aldon Smith?? OH. MY. GOD
This is a great pickup as long as he is on the field.
As a niners fan I hate the move, but in all honesty the raiders defense is gonna be nasty with that pass rush! He will be suspended but prob won’t happen till next year since it never comes up. Good luck smith!
Rams never inquired about this loser that will probably not even play this year because he wll be suspended!! What a joke!
Since the comments in here have gotten a little, uh… heated, just a reminder of our commenting policy: link to profootballrumors.com
Most notably: “Attacks or insults towards other commenters, the post author, journalists, teams, players, or agents” aren’t allowed. Being critical of a move, a team, or a player is totally fine — just don’t go overboard with the attacks.
Thanks guys.