Las Vegas Raiders: Defensive tackle remains an issue heading into 2023

The Las Vegas Raiders tried everything to fix the interior of their defensive line last off-season, but it remains an issue heading into 2023.

To say the Las Vegas Raiders defense underperformed last season would be an understatement, as they struggle to get stops on a weekly basis. Last offseason, David Ziegler tried hard to revamp the defensive line, bringing in Chandler Jones to come off the edge, and a host of defensive tackles to try and clog up the middle.

Ziegler even added two defensive tackles in the 2022 NFL Draft, selecting both Neil Farrell Jr. and Matthew Butler. Despite all of that, Las Vegas struggled to get any push in the middle and going into this offseason, defensive tackle is still seen as a position of need.

Looking at the Raiders’ pending free agents, there are two defensive tackles on the list, and one needs to be brought back for another go-around.

Raiders should look to bring back Jerry Tillery

The pending free agents at the position group are Andrew Billings and Jerry Tillery, two young defensive tackles that had some strong moments for the Raiders last season. However, if Ziegler had to choose between the two, Tillery is a player I would like to see brought back, as he is young and shows flashes of being a real impact player.

Tillery was a first-round pick of division rival Los Angeles a few years back and is still only 26 years old. After starting for the Chargers in both 2020 and 2021, he was a reserve player in 2022 before landing with the Raiders, where he made four starts.

He has a tremendous motor, outstanding size, and in the right scheme, should be able to show why he was taken on Day 1 back in 2019.

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The Las Vegas Raiders have $46 million in cap space, and this gives them the space to trade down and load up for a full rebuild ahead of 2023.

This offseason, a lot of the focus has to be on the defensive side of the ball, and it will be interesting to see which new faces Ziegler and his staff bring in. Yes, the defensive backfield needs help, as well as the linebacker group, but defensive tackle is a huge concern, and the Raiders have to get it right this offseason.