Smith Is a Richer Raider : NFL: Lineman signs four-year, $7.6-million deal instead of becoming a free agent, making him team’s highest-paid defensive player.

Defensive end Anthony Smith, who would have become a free agent at season’s end, has signed a four-year, $7.6-million contract with the Raiders, making him the team’s highest-paid defensive player, it was learned Monday.

Smith, 26, will receive $1.2 million immediately, as an addition to his 1993 salary, thus removing that amount, as permitted, from consideration toward next year’s anticipated salary cap.

The remainder of the money will be paid over the next four seasons. Smith will earn an average of $1.9 million a season, including the ’93 down payment, which is for salary-cap purposes only. He made an estimated $600,000 this season, meaning the lump sum addition alone is double his current salary.

The $7.6 million is the largest Raider contract in total dollars.

Quarterback Jeff Hostetler is the highest-paid Raider, receiving $7.5 million over three years.

One of the NFL’s rising defensive stars, with a little less than a sack a game in his career until he was hurt this season, Smith could have tested the free-agent market next spring.

“I didn’t want to test (it),” he said. “I gladly accept what I have been given. I could (not) care less what goes on (with free agency) over the next three months. I’m happy to be here. I’d rather have $7.6 million here as opposed to $9 million in Green Bay.”

That’s in reference to Reggie White, the defensive lineman who emerged as the cream of last season’s free-agent crop, signing a four-year, $17-million deal with the Green Bay Packers that includes $9 million this season.

“The grass sometimes looks greener on the other side, but money doesn’t mean everything,” Smith said. “Here, I have a chance to get in the playoffs every year. For Reggie White, what’s in Wisconsin?

“I have a lot of equity in this city, both on and off the field. Maybe later on, I’ll think in terms of broader horizons. But I’m making millions now, I’m a single guy and this is only my second contract.”

Smith’s career has soared after a disastrous start. A 1990 first-round draft choice from Arizona, he never made it to the season opener, suffering a season-ending knee injury the week before.

But Smith got back on his feet and has been knocking quarterbacks off theirs ever since. During his first two playing seasons, Smith appeared in 31 games and recorded 23.5 sacks.

He cracked into opposing backfields, but never into the starting lineup. The knock against Smith was his inability to stop the run.

This season, he appeared more ferocious than ever, barreling into the league lead with 11 sacks in his first seven games to give him 34.5 in 38 games.

Smith’s playing time had increased dramatically, though he was still not a starter.

Nothing, it seemed, could stop him. Except Dave Krieg’s helmet.

Trying to sack the Kansas City Chief quarterback, Smith banged his left hand on Krieg’s headgear, badly spraining a finger.

As a result, Smith has had only 1 1/2 sacks in his last eight games.

But the injury didn’t discourage the Raiders from elevating him to a level that places him among the league’s richest linemen.

Negotiations became uncertain when Smith’s agent, Bob Woolf, died last month. But Woolf’s associate, former player Randy Vataha, and another Smith representative, Zack Jones, continued the talks.

Smith claimed the agreement was stalled early Thursday, the deadline for including some new money in 1993 salaries. But the negotiations were ultimately concluded in time to meet the deadline, and a final, unrelated legal hurdle was cleared Monday.

Smith’s signing brings to five the number of players the Raiders gave new contracts before the deadline, thus keeping a portion of the money outside the salary cap. The others are defensive backs Terry McDaniel and Eddie Anderson, kicker Jeff Jaeger and defensive lineman Willie Broughton.