Count Raiders defensive tackle Pat Sims among those who like the upside of first-rounder Khalil Mack.
In a story published on the club’s website Monday, Sims said the rookie linebacker from Buffalo “can play almost any position in the front seven.”
“He’s an athlete. He’s a freak,” the veteran defensive tackle said of Mack, the No. 5 overall pick, per Raiders.com. “We just have to put him in the right situations and he’s going to be hell.”
According to Raiders.com, Sims joked that defensive tackle was the exception to the positions the 6-foot-3, 252-pound Mack could play.
Per ESPN.com, Mack played strong-side linebacker in offseason workouts with Oakland. And if Mack has the versatility Sims believes he possesses, the rookie could thrive as the “Sam” linebacker, which requires the physicality to play the run and the athleticism to cope in pass coverage. Mack’s pass rush ability will be closely watched, too.