–On Monday the Raiders announced the signing of two free agent defensive ends: Jacquies Smith and Kony Ealy.
Smith, 6-2, 260, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2012 when he signed with the Miami Dolphins. Smith was also with the New York Jets (2012-13), Buffalo Bills (2013-14), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-17), Detroit Lions (2017) and most recently with the Arizona Cardinals in this year.
He has appeared in 34 contests and made 18 starts, compiling 41 tackles (29 solo), 13.5 sacks, three passes defensed, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Smith played in 53 games at Missouri, starting in 32 of them over his four-year career (2008-11). As a Tiger, he recorded 159 stops, including 26 for loss, 13 sacks and one interception that he returned for a touchdown.
Ealy, 6-4, 275, was a second-round pick (60th overall) of the Carolina Panthers in the 2014 draft. After the Panthers (2014-16), he played with the New York Jets (2017).
He has appeared in 62 games, including 19 starts. His stats include 90 tackles (53 solo), 15 sacks, two interceptions, 14 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In postseason action, Ealy was in five contests and made one start, getting 11 stops, three sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
A native of New Madrid, Mo., Ealy played in 38 games at Missouri and made 25 starts, earning first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a junior in 2013. Over his career, he registered 93 tackles, including 27.5 for loss, 14 sacks, one interception, 13 passes defensed and four forced fumbles.
And so it goes as the Raiders try to remember what it was like when Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin were a force at defensive end before Mack was traded and Irvin just faded. Irvin, cut last week, signed Wednesday with the Atlanta Falcons.
Irvin wore No. 51 with the Raiders. In Atlanta he took jersey No. 52, in homage to Mack.
