The Raiders have to improve their defense this season as they were one of the worst run-units in the NFL. Whenever Johnathan Hankins was out of the lineup, they really struggled to stop the run.
Going into the 2022 offseason, Hankins is scheduled to be a free agent and the Raiders might move on considering the new regime. He’ll turn 30 this month and could have a decent size market. If he does leave, the Raiders will have to address defensive tackle early in the 2022 NFL Draft.
In a recent mock draft by Bucky Brooks of NFL Media, he has the Raiders selecting Jordan Davis, a defensive tackle from Georgia at pick No. 22. Here is why he believes Davis would make a ton of sense for the Raiders in the middle of their defense:
“Taking a run-stopper early in the draft isn’t sexy, but Davis is a true difference-maker at the point of attack. The mammoth defensive tackle could single-handedly neutralize opposing ground games and create more pass-rush opportunities for Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue.”
Davis isn’t much of a pass rusher, but he is a fantastic athlete at 360 pounds. He’s the best run-stopping defensive tackle in the class and he demands double teams.
While drafting Davis won’t fix their run defense issues alone, he will certainly help in that area. And if he can develop more as a pass rusher, Brown has the potential to be a Vita Vea-like player in the NFL. If he were to fall to pick No. 22, the Raiders would have to consider taking one of the most dominant players in the country from last season.
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