Las Vegas Raiders: 3 areas of concern as the 2022 calendar turns to April

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 19: A Raiders logo is illuminated at the base of the marquee outside Allegiant Stadium, the USD 2 billion, 65,000-seat home of the Las Vegas Raiders, on September 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders will play their first game as Las Vegas' NFL franchise at the glass-domed facility against the New Orleans Saints on September 21, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the league's first "Monday Night Football" broadcast. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 19: A Raiders logo is illuminated at the base of the marquee outside Allegiant Stadium, the USD 2 billion, 65,000-seat home of the Las Vegas Raiders, on September 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders will play their first game as Las Vegas' NFL franchise at the glass-domed facility against the New Orleans Saints on September 21, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the league's first "Monday Night Football" broadcast. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 24: Bilal Nichols #98 of the Chicago Bears leaves the game after being ejected during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 24, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 24: Bilal Nichols #98 of the Chicago Bears leaves the game after being ejected during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 24, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Raiders: 3 areas of concern as the 2022 calendar turns to April

Nose Tackle

New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is going to come in and run his classic Base 3-4 defense, and he certainly has the two edge rushers to cause havoc along the defensive line. However, they still need their starter at nose tackle, though the front office did do a nice job bringing in some veteran talents in Bilal Nicholas and Vernon Butler to name a few.

Still, one name that we kicked around last week was Ndamukong Suh, who would be the final piece of the puzzle for what would be one of the best defensive lines in football. If the Raiders can get a big-time player to play in the middle of the defensive line, it is going to make life difficult for their AFC West opponents, while helping the Raiders against some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

For most of the offseason, the Raiders have been rumored to be in the mix for two star defensive backs in Stephon Gilmore and Tyrann Mathieu. If they are brought in, they become instant starters for their revamped secondary, but as of now, it seems these three areas are the ones that have to be on the front burner in Las Vegas.

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