2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders erase needs in 7-round mock draft
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders brought in a bunch of bodies up front along the defensive line, including Ngakoue on the outside, and players like Quinton Jefferson and Solomon Thomas on the inside. Also, they said goodbye to 2018 draft picks Maurice Hurst Jr. and Arden Key, two guys who have landed on their feet with the San Francisco 49ers.
Despite the team taking some fliers on some veterans at defensive tackle, it would not be surprising if they used their fourth-round pick on the position group. One player I really like in this draft is Alim McNeill, a bruiser of a defensive tackle who is excellent against the run, and strong enough to get in the backfield and wreak havoc.
The key to Gus Bradley’s defense is to get pressure up front without sending too many blitzes, which means the front four have to get as much push as possible. McNeill is a guy who can certainly do that, and with players like Johnathan Hankins, possibly Clelin Ferrell inside, and the new faces, the Raiders would have more than enough inside pressure on a pretty deep rotation.