Oakland Raiders: 5 defensive linemen to target in free agency

It will be interesting to see how the Oakland Raiders address the defensive line this offseason. While we all know that former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther will be running the Silver and Black’s defense, Oakland still has not hired a defensive line coach.

Generating pressure has always been a big part of Guenther’s scheme in Cincinnati. Oakland has three picks in the top-100, as well as two key contributors on the defensive front hitting free agency in defensive tackle Justin Ellis and defensive end Denico Autry. Both could be back, it is more likely that Oakland would prioritize Autry over Ellis due to him having a higher ceiling as an NFL player.

Though Oakland is not swimming in cash entering free agency, we can honestly expect the Raiders to make one, probably two high-profile signings this offseason. Expect one of them to be at wide receiver, especially if they move off Michael Crabtree. As for the defense, we have to expect the Raiders to target a veteran defensive back.

That being said, it would go a long way in turning this defense around if Guenther was able to land a high-end defensive linemen of his liking. While Autry and Ellis could be back, here are five defensive linemen the Raiders should look into heading into 2018 NFL free agency.

Though Oakland may let Ellis walk, it may be easier to replace Autry at defensive end than Ellis at defensive tackle in free agency. However, there are a handful of defensive tackles that have higher upside than Ellis entering this free agency cycle. One guy that could be available is Star Lotulelei of the Carolina Panthers.

Lotulelei has been serviceable, but not exactly worth the No. 14 overall selection out of Utah in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Panthers. That was the first year that former Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman was running the Carolina front office. A draft strategy of his is to double-down one-two to solidify a major position group of need. He did it last year with offensive weapons Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel. In 2013, he grabbed Lotulelei and Kawann Short on the defensive line.

Since Carolina was able to use the fifth-year option on Lotulelei, the Panthers were able to franchise tag the better Carolinian defensive tackle in Short last spring, as he was a former second round pick. Frankly, Carolina might let Lotulelei walk, as Sean McDermott isn’t running the defense in Charlotte anymore.

At 6-foot-3, 311 pounds, he could fit in up front on the Raiders’ defensive line. Maybe a change of scenery would do wonders for Lotulelei entering his second contract? Though he’s not going to be a star (pun intended) in Oakland, he could provide a level of consistency in the middle of Guenther’s defense for the next few years at the right price, of course.