Oakland Raiders’ Aldon Smith to be reinstated in March
Aldon Smith may be making his long-awaited return to the NFL this spring.
Aldon Smith has always been regarded as a talented linebacker. However, his troubles off the field have led to his downfall. This includes an airport arrest, a DUI, and violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. This eventually led to a one-year suspension in November 2015, his first season with the Oakland Raiders.
In 2016, Smith wouldn’t be able to return despite his calender-long suspension ending in November. However, things seem to be trending up for his return to the NFL. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is reporting the Oakland Raiders edge rusher will be reinstated in March. This comes a little over one month after having his request deferred by the NFL.
#Raiders LB Aldon Smith will be reinstated in March, sources say, barring a slip up in the drug program. His request was deferred in Dec.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 5, 2017
Smith returning to the Raiders should add a strong presence to their defense, which ranked 26th in total defense in 2016. He could be a pass-rushing specialist for them opposite Defensive Player of the Year, Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin. It’s also possible the organization may want to move on if they feel the baggage isn’t worth it, but considering they’ve remained by his side through the appeals process, that appears slim.
On the other hand, it has been over one year since Smith has played an NFL game. He’s only 27-years-old, but could the time away have caused him to lose a step? That will only be known once he steps into offseason activities and the preseason in August.
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We’ll see if there’s still a spot for Smith on the Raider defense. Given what he showed in his first five seasons, the talent is there. Remember how he totaled 33.5 sacks in his first two years in the NFL? It made the Missouri product look like he would be the next great pass rusher. Since 2013, he’s only played in 27 games due to the off-field issues. If Smith has learned from his mistakes, he should be able to find a way to stick in the league and possibly even return to Pro Bowl form.