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Raiders draft countdown: Khalil Mack is best No. 52

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Mark Hebert | Last updated Mar 2, 2026 8:42 AM ET

Fifty-two days remain until the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 23-25, 2026. After a 3-14 season in 2025, the Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick as this daily countdown continues through the franchise’s best players by jersey number.

Today, March 2, the number is 52.

Khalil Mack, No. 52

Khalil Mack is the pick for No. 52 because his four-year run with the Raiders was as dominant as any defender’s stretch in modern franchise history. From 2014-2017, Mack became the face of the Raiders defense, turning every snap into a problem for opposing quarterbacks.

Mack played 64 games for the Raiders and started all 64. He posted 40.5 sacks in Silver and Black, plus game-changing disruption that doesn’t always show up cleanly in one stat line.

May 8, 2014

Image | Source: Dice City Sports
Image | Source: Dice City Sports
Image | Source: Dice City Sports

The Oakland Raiders selected Buffalo Bulls LB Khalil Mack as their 1st rounder, the fifth overall draft pick. pic.twitter.com/dAPUkrU4jn

— AFL Godfather

Image | Source: Dice City Sports
Image | Source: Dice City Sports
Image | Source: Dice City Sports
(@NFLMAVERICK) May 8, 2023

Why Mack gets No. 52

No. 52 has several solid Raiders, but Mack separates quickly with peak performance. He wasn’t just productive—he was the weekly game plan. At his best, he could wreck drives with pressure, force fumbles, and strong-side run defense all in the same series.

For this number, the best Raider is the one who owned the league’s attention. That’s Mack.

Draft and background

Mack was born Feb. 22, 1991, in Fort Pierce, Florida. He played at Fort Pierce Westwood High School before starring at Buffalo.

The Oakland Raiders drafted him fifth overall in 2014. He immediately became a franchise cornerstone and later won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors during his Raiders tenure.

Other notable No. 52s

Kirk Morrison, 2005-2009
Mike Jones, 1991-2002
Linden King, 1986-1989
J.R. Williamson, 1964-1967
Richard Harvey, 1998-1999
Denzel Perryman, 2021-2022
Floyd Rice, 1976-1977
Gary Weaver, 1973-1974

Career check

Mack’s case is simple: elite peak, elite production, and an unmistakable identity as the Raiders’ defensive engine in the mid-2010s. For No. 52, the best Raider is Khalil Mack.

Next up tomorrow: No. 51.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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