Grading the Las Vegas Raiders additions on defense
Maliek Collins, DT, Dallas Cowboys
One of the primary needs for the Raiders coming in to 2020 was improving the defensive tackle position and finding a player capable of providing an interior pass rush. That need saw the Raiders linked with Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones as a dream move in free agency and University of South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw in the first round of the NFL Draft. Maliek Collins is a player capable of providing just what the Raiders would have asked of Jones and Kinlaw.
This is not to suggest that Collins is as good a player as Jones or has the pedigree of Kinlaw, but he has certainly been very productive in his four-year career. Since being drafted in the third round out of Nebraska in 2016, Collins had 14.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, and 40 QB hits for the Cowboys. He will step in immediately as a starter alongside Mo Hurst and provide an excellent pass rushing duo for two interior lineman.
Collins will also be reuniting with his former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli so his familiarity there could help him be productive sooner than later. The addition of Collins gives the Raiders a much stronger defensive tackle group and provides some much needed depth. Contract details have not been released as of yet but given how prudent the Raiders have been with their other signings it’s hard to imagine they broke the bank for Collins.