Raiders 2022 NFL Draft: Day 2 defensive studs to watch for

Raiders Day 2 prospect watch: Zachary Carter, DL, Florida

Even though Zachary Carter was grouped in with the defensive ends at the NFL Combine, he’s more than that. A truly versatile defensive lineman that could up line up anywhere the Raiders would desire, whether it’s inside or on the edge as a part of their rotation.

As far as his combine performance goes, Carter was at a bit of a disadvantage because he was listed as an edge rusher. Nevertheless, the six-foot-four, 282-pound lineman measured in with 33.5-inch arms, posting a 4.99 time in his 40-yard dash and totaling 19 reps in the bench press.

Meanwhile, Carter’s vertical jump was 27.5 inches, and his broad jump was 110 inches. These numbers may not stand out to some, but as we all know, NFL teams assess these performances much differently than fans.

Depending on what type of alignment Graham implements from play to play, Carter has the ability to play either strong-side defensive end or as a 3-tech defensive tackle. He put on a solid display of pass-rushing skill last year by accumulating 11.5 tackles for a loss and seven and a half sacks. As far as Day 2 goes, Carter would prove to be a steal, as his draft stock took a hit due to his positional mislabeling.