Las Vegas Raiders 2023 7-round Mock Draft: A backup for Derek Carr
Las Vegas Raiders 2023 7-round Mock Draft: Insurance for Darren Waller
player. 860. . DT. Bears . Siaki Ika. 77
The Raiders went defensive tackle twice in last year’s draft and they have gotten solid production from that group in recent weeks but mostly from free agent and waiver acquisitions Andrew Billings and Jerry Tillery. If they are able to convince Tillery to stick around then DT may not be a major need but grabbing Siaki Ika in the third round would be a great value.
Siaki Ika is a mountain of a man at 6’5, 350lbs, and is the type of guy that regularly draws double teams. He is not built as low to the ground as many nose tackles, but his massive frame makes him an incredible run stuffer when he is able to gain leverage against opposing blockers. The raw statistics are not there which is normal for a nose tackle, but he did have 3.5 sacks and 6 tackles for loss in 12 games for Baylor in 2021.
One issue that scouts have pointed out is that he can play with a high pad level at times so that tendency will need to be coached out of him. If he is able to improve in that area then he can be a devastating run defender and draw double teams on the regular.
The obvious comparison for Ika’s ceiling is Vita Vea who has been an incredible player in the middle of Tampa’s defense, but Vea is much more fundamentally sound and has great leverage. If Ika can work on his technique, he can help free up the pass rushers on the outside and make life so much easier for Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby.