Las Vegas Raiders revamped their defensive line early in free agency
By Kenny King
Las Vegas Raiders revamped their defensive line early in free agency
New Faces
Solomon Thomas
In 2020, Solomon Thomas missed the season due to injury, resulting in the San Francisco 49ers declining his 5th-year option, making him free to sign with any team. In the Raiders free agent press conference on March 19th, 2021, Thomas stated that he had “a lot of time to watch Raiders football” adding that he “was hoping to get a call from the Raiders”.
Thomas, the former third overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, has faced a vast amount of scrutiny over the years as he has dealt with injuries and limited playing time while on the 49ers. Thomas looks towards Las Vegas as a new beginning and an opportunity to resurrect his career in a new environment as a rotational player who brings a unique blend of size and speed to the defensive line.
Quinton Jefferson
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson joins the Raiders after spending the last season in Buffalo where he compiled three sacks, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Jefferson is another high-motor veteran who’s played well in both the run and passing game and can fit seamlessly into Gus Bradley’s defensive system.
Jefferson is a solid rotational player who can play both inside and outside on the line, which creates the ability to create confusion for opposing offensive linemen allowing the Raiders to generate more opportunities to be successful upfront.
Yannick Ngakoue
Of course, the biggest splash made by the team in this free agency period is the addition of EDGE Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue, who played in Bradley’s defensive system in Jacksonville said in the team press conference that he is “here to win” and added that he is “here to bring a Super Bowl” to the franchise, also adding that Las Vegas been a team he wanted to join and citing his relationship with Gus Bradley as a major factor in that decision.
Yannick brings strength as a pass rusher to a Raiders team that needs improvement in the area, as his 254 pressures since 2016 are second to Aaron Donald, and will certainly help free up Crosby and Ferrell as teams will now have to gameplan against multiple rushers.
Next. Las Vegas Raiders: Grading defensive free agent additions. dark
In signing Ngakoue, Las Vegas also add another leader in the locker room who has played on great defenses and knows what it takes to become a playoff-contending defense. His leadership will be beneficial to the growth and maturity of the young Raiders’ defensive line.