The Las Vegas Raiders added depth to its defensive line with the addition of free-agent defensive end Carl Nassib.
Over the last couple of weeks, the Las Vegas Raiders haven’t been afraid to open up the checkbook. The organization has signed a bunch of talented free agents on the defensive side of the ball, bringing the distribution of wealth in comparison to the offense closer to equilibrium. Among the new acquisitions is defensive end, Carl Nassib.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Nassib signed a three-year $25 million contract with $17 million guaranteed and another $3 million in incentives. That deal makes him the highest-paid player on the Raiders’ defensive line next season from a per year basis, including incentives.
Carl Nassib goes the #Raiders for 3 years and $25M, source said. He gets a whopping $17M fully guaranteed at signing on a deal that has a max value of $28M. https://t.co/86qvPQnba1
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2020
The lineman comes to Las Vegas after spending the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before Tampa, he spent the first couple years of his career with the Cleveland Browns where he became famous for serving as the team’s “financial advisor” during HBO’s Hard Knocks. That would be Nassib’s last contribution in Cleveland however since he was released as part of the team’s final roster cuts.
Nonetheless, he projects to be a significant contributor for the Silver and Black, and here is a look at what the veteran brings to the table.
Stats, Combine Numbers, Injuries, Scheme Fits, Best/Worst Traits
Stats
Has seen an increase in pass rush production since signing with Tampa Bay and his total tackles have been fairly stagnant since 2017. Saw a big jump from his rookie to second-year. All stats are provided by Pro Football Reference.
2016: 20 total tackles, 2 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 7 QB hits.
2017: 32 total tackles, 9 TFLs, 3 sacks, 8 QB hits.
2018: 29 tackles, 12 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, 14 QB hits.
2019: 34 total tackles, 8 TFLs, 6 sacks, 11 QB hits.
Combine Numbers
Height: 6067
Weight: 277 lbs
40 Yard Dash: 4.84
10 Yard Split: 1.62
Arm: 34.5
Hand: 10.375
Vertical: 28.5
Pro Shuttle: 4.37
Broad Jump: 906
Bench Reps: 21
Injuries
2019: Groin injury – 2 games missed.
2018: Elbow – no games missed, Shoulder – 1 game missed.
2017: No injuries.
2016: Broken hand – 2 games missed, Calf injury – missed minicamp.
2015 (college): Undisclosed injury – no games missed.
Scheme Fit
He can play anywhere from a 4-technique defensive end to a standup outside linebacker in a 3/4 system, and anywhere from a 4 to a 6-technique defensive end in a 4/3 system.
For the Raiders, Nassib should fit nicely as a strong-side defensive end in defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s scheme.
Best Traits
- Upfield Burst
- Competitive Toughness
- Run Defense against pullers
Worst Traits
- Bend and Athletic Ability as a Pass Rusher
- Consistency with Use of Hands
Projection, Body Type/Athletic Ability, Context, Games Watched
Projection
Rotational (general, not team specific) 4 tech to OLB in 3/4 system, 4 tech to 6 tech in a 4/3 system. A good run defender who can take on pullers using force technique and can get good penetration to play in the offense’s backfield. Has a couple good pass rush moves he can win with and can get off the ball to win with speed, but cannot bend to consistently win as an edge rusher.
Body Type and Athletic Ability
Athletic build with good muscle tone, very good height, good weight, very good arm length, and very good Hand size. Shows solid athletic ability with good explosiveness, change of direction, adequate hip mobility and balance.
Context
A four-year pro who has started 32 out of 59 career games, including eight out of 14 in 2019. Injuries aren’t a concern as he only missed two games in 2019 with a groin injury and has missed three total games due to injury in his NFL career. Played 56% of snaps for defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers in defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ 3/4 system. Played primarily as an OLB and shifted inside to play anywhere from a 4 to a 6 technique.
Games Watched
9/8/2019 vs. San Francisco 49ers
9/29/2019 at Los Angeles Rams
10/6/2019 at New Orleans Saints
10/13/2019 vs. Carolina Panthers
10/27/2019 at Tennessee Titans
What Nassib Can and Cannot Do
Can vs. the Pass
Very good get off and upfield burst with his hand in the ground as a true defensive end, his first three steps are quick and can win in pass rush with speed. Good mental processing to recognize screens and has good change of direction (COD) to factor into the play. Has a good pass rush plan in obvious passing downs and will work to swipe the offensive lineman’s hands away. He has two good pass rush moves, the most effective being an up and under with a long arm, and a good swim move that’s really effective when playing a 4 technique because he doesn’t need as much bend to take an efficient route to the QB.
Very good COD as the penetrator in line games and can take the offensive tackle with him to open up pass rush lanes by pressing up the field and cutting inside late. As the looper in line games, he has good COD and takes efficient angles to the QB. Good COD and mental processing help him recognize and cover bootlegs. Solid in coverage, he got better as the year went on and he can pick up backs out of the backfield and knows when to leave his zone and go after a scrambling quarterback. Hips loosened up and became more fluid as he took more reps in coverage.
Can vs. the Run
Uses his good swim move to avoid blocks and get penetration against the run, putting him in a good position to make a play in the backfield. With 1-gap responsibilities against zone run, he splits the blocker in half to hold his gap assignment. When slanting, combines his very good get off with a good rip move to get penetration and can make tackles with tight ends hanging on him.
Good mental processing shows up when he gets jet sweep action his way as he has good discipline to hold his responsibility by taking the sweep away before diving inside and going after the running back. Has solid play strength to get extension and shed blocks made by tight ends, wide receivers, and running backs.
Solid overall play strength shows up against gap runs when taking on pullers as a force technique, doesn’t lose ground and can shed the block and make the play. Good hustle on running plays away from him and solid pursuit as he takes deep angles. Good competitive toughness as he plays snap to whistle and turns his intensity up a notch by playing faster and more aggressive late in the game. Also, he plays with better pad level and gets off the ball even faster on the goal line.
Cannot vs. the Pass
Adequate mental processing as a pass rusher as his transition from run to pass is slow against play action, and he doesn’t recognize when chip and cut blocks are coming. Adequate and inconsistent hand placement during his bull rush makes it tough for him to get extension against offensive linemen and collapse the pocket with that move.
Doesn’t finish his pass rush moves with a violent rip, allowing offensive lineman to hang on to him without getting called for holding. Adequate athletic ability as a pass rusher as he struggles to maintain his balance and will end up on the ground when he breaks through the line, and he lacks the bend and hip mobility to run the hoop and take efficient angles to the QB off the edge. In coverage, he is adequate at backpedaling and takes a while to get to his area in zone coverage.
Cannot vs. the Run
Upfield burst comes back to haunt him against the run as he struggles to break down and make tackles for loss on running backs when he doesn’t use the swim move. Adequate and inconsistent hand placement, typically too wide and is slow which leads to minimal force behind his punch.
When slanting, he will get reached because he struggles to recognize and adapt to outside zone blocking. Against base blocks, he struggles to get extension against offensive linemen making it difficult for him to shed their blocks, and he struggles to keep his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage.
He struggles to hold his ground against down blocks in gap running schemes, especially when slanting because he isn’t able to put his foot in the ground and fight against the offensive lineman’s block. Adequate play speed keeps him from being able to make tackles in pursuit and doesn’t break down when making open-field tackles against running backs and wide receivers.