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Raiders plug crucial holes in latest 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft

By Mario O. Tovar

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; General overall view of the stage as the Oakland Raiders prepare to select Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (not pictured) as the No. 24 pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; General overall view of the stage as the Oakland Raiders prepare to select Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (not pictured) as the No. 24 pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Raiders
Mar 5, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis (DL16) goes through drills during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Raiders mock draft – Pick No. 126 – Phidarian Mathis, IDL, Alabama

The Raiders still need to add quality depth to their defensive line’s interior. As of right now, they have a wealth of run stuffers such as Johnathan Hankins, but Alabama’s Phidarian Mathis will offer more than that.

Mathis posted a 23.5-inch vertical jump along with a 109-inch broad jump at the combine. The six-foot-four, 314-pound prospect is a well-rounded defensive lineman with plenty of upside if he can be had in the fourth round.

The key to unlocking Mathis’s potential will be if the Raiders use him as a 3-tech, where he’ll offer help in the pass-rushing department. However, he can also hold his own in run defense thanks to his ability to quickly close his gaps and swarm the running back. A truly disruptive force, Mathis accumulated nine sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss in 2021.

Once he’s in the NFL, Mathis can be coached into becoming a dominant force on the inside as he already possesses a nasty bull rush and has the necessary tools, such as remarkable feet and strength.

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