Las Vegas Raiders add talented edge rusher in Todd McShay’s latest mock
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders have invested big time in their defensive line the last two years, but Todd McShay feels they are not done yet.
After a 2018 NFL season that saw the then-Oakland Raiders get to the quarterback only 13 times, the gauntlet was thrown down that the team had to improve up front along the defensive line. Prior to that 2018 campaign, Jon Gruden traded away Khalil Mack, a generational talent at edge rusher who was a former Defensive Player of the Year.
To replace Mack, the Raiders drafted Clelin Ferrell with the No. 4 overall pick the following April, before bringing in Maxx Crosby in the fourth round. Crosby emerged as a legitimate sack threat in Year 1, racking up ten sacks, while Ferrell came on late to show some promise.
This offseason, Ferrell has put on a bunch of weight, and while he will play inside a bit, he should spend more time on the outside. In addition, the Raiders added former Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Carl Nassib, while also signing defensive tackle Maliek Collins, who is adept at getting after the quarterback as well.
Still, even with these additions, the Raiders could choose to use a first round pick on an edge rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft’s first round.