The Raiders made a bunch of big defensive signings in free agency this offseason, bringing in the likes of Cory Littleton, Maliek Collins and Nick Kwiatkoski. However, one move that has gone somewhat under the radar is the signing of veteran defensive end Carl Nassib.
In his last two seasons in Tampa Bay, Nassib became a key part of their defensive line. He started 17 games for the Buccaneers, totaling 12.5 sacks since 2018. While that number might not seem incredibly high, it’s worth noting that he’s played just 56 percent of the team’s defensive snaps during that time.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, Nassib was listed as a “name to watch” in the 2020 season due to his pass-rushing ability. Take a look at the site’s thoughts on Nassib with the Raiders:
Las Vegas will be hoping that the combination of Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell can maintain starting status throughout the year given Crosby’s strong rookie season and the fact that Ferrell was the fourth-overall pick in the NFL draft. Nassib is a solid albeit unexciting starting option if things don’t go according to plan, though. He has played 500 or more defensive snaps in each of the past three seasons, earning grades of 64.0 or higher each year. Nassib isn’t going to scare opposing quarterbacks, but he will provide stout play against the run.
Nassib is the perfect complement to Crosby and Ferrell as he can play either defensive end spots and is a proven veteran. While he isn’t an elite athlete, he has the size and length to play all across the defensive line.
When Rod Marinelli was the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, he always had one or two defensive linemen that could back up two or three spots. For the last several seasons, it’s been Tyrone Crawford and that player has become incredibly valuable on game day.
Nassib has a similar body as Crawford and both players can play defensive end or inside at defensive tackle on passing downs. While they may never receive a ton of praise for their play, it’s part of the reason the defense as a whole can have success. Having a competent “third” defensive end who can play multiple spots and generate pressure is key to having a great pass-rush.
While Nassib may not start for the Raiders in 2020, look for him to play around 55-60 percent of the defensive snaps as a rotational pass-rusher. And if he can replicate his production over the last two seasons, the Raiders stole one of the more underrated pass rushers in the NFL in free agency.
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