The Las Vegas Raiders need more talented players to help boost their pass rush. Defensive linemen Mustafa Johnson and Jay Tufele could help shore up the unit next year.
No matter how you slice it, the Raiders need to address their pass-rushing deficiency via the NFL draft in 2021. Signing free agents has proven to be inadequate so far. Defensive end Carl Nassib has been a non-factor but also investing in interior linemen Maliek Collins doesn’t look good in retrospect. There are definitely some bright spots such as Maurice Hurst but we’ve seen that the Raiders staff won’t use him on a full-time basis.
‘Mo’ is more of a rotational player, which is fine but they need more. Johnathan Hankins is one of the best at stopping the run, but we don’t know if he’ll be back. The stalwarts moving forward are Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell, who need to increase their number of sacks.
Revamping the Raiders defensive line 2021 should be of the utmost importance for Raiders brass. There are two Pac-12 prospects that the Silver and Black could use.
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Imagine if the Raiders Could Land Johnson and Tufele in 2021?
Johnson is a six-foot-two defensive lineman from the University of Colorado. The senior could be a nice addition. He has had 46 solo tackles the last three seasons, 21.5 of them for a loss. All in all, Johson has 13 career sacks to go with two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. The Dynasty Draft Room is high on Johnson as well.
“He’s a nifty pass-rusher who has a knack for finding the hole in protection and getting to the quarterback. A thick body frame and long arms allow him to make enough stops in the run game. Effort is awesome; lauded for being a team leader.”
Tufele could also help come in and provide stability in the interior. He opted to not play this year and instead focused his attention on the 2021 NFL draft. Career-wise, he amassed six and a half sacks, a pass defensed, and ten tackles for a loss. As far as attacking the pass, The Draft Network highlighted Tufele’s abilities.
“In the passing game, he is sufficient to generate pressure. Tufele is an explosive athlete who uses his powerful hands to defeat interior linemen inside and get to the QB. “
We’ve seen what Crosby can do from the outside but imagine Tufele generating actual pressure on the inside? There’s a lot of potential there and if there’s one thing the Raiders need more of, it’s getting to opposing quarterbacks.
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*Top Photo: Associated Press/Jae C. Hong