The Las Vegas Raiders have massive holes to fill at both linebacker, and along the defensive end, making Day 1 of the Combine so important.
The time has come for the Las Vegas Raiders to get down to business in terms of the 2023 NFL Draft, as the on-field workouts for the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off on Thursday. For the Silver and Black, the Combine could make or break their draft season, especially with high draft capital going into this year’s draft.
On Thursday, the on-field workouts kick off from Indianapolis, and it features two position groups the Raiders should be all-in on this April. The defensive linemen and linebackers will take center stage on Day 1, and for the Silver and Black, all eyes should be on bolstering the middle of their defensive line, getting some help along the edge, and fixing the linebacker position as a whole.
Raiders could fix some big holes at DL and LB this draft season.
Some of the biggest names in this entire draft class will be on display on Thursday, including guys like Tyree Wilson, Will Anderson Jr., and Myles Murphy, three elite edge defenders in this draft class. Bryan Bresee, Lukas Van Ness, and Trenton Simpson are also getting first-round buzz, and all three of those guys could instantly improve this Raiders defense as rookies.
Linebacker is a position the Silver and Black could target on Day 2, especially with Van Ness being someone who can play edge or linebacker, and Simpson considered one of the best linebackers in the class. Players like Noah Sewell, Drew Sanders, and Jack Campbell are also considered top-60 picks in this draft, so there will be no shortage of possible Raiders on the field Thursday.
The truth is, Las Vegas needs to give Maxx Crosby some more help in both the interior of the defensive line and coming off the edge, so look for the Silver and Black to be a player in both areas. Crosby has emerged as one of the best young defensive players in the game since being taken in the fourth-round back in 2019, and helping him has got to be a priority for David Ziegler and company this offseason.
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Of course, one big name that will be missing on Thursday is Jalen Carter from Georgia, a player widely considered a top-3 draft pick this season who suddenly finds himself in some off-the-field trouble. We will wait to see how that all plays out, but if Carter’s draft stock is impacted, it will have a huge ripple effect across the entire first round and beyond.