The Las Vegas Raiders desperately need to upgrade their pass rush, so it would make sense that Miami’s Gregory Rosseau is the pick in just another mock draft.
The Raiders had a historically bad season on defense for a multitude of reasons under Paul Guenther. However, the lack of a true pass rush was evident, or rather the inability to tally sacks was concerning. While there were some flashes of pressure at times, especially by Clelin Ferrell, the Silver and Black just couldn’t finish the job. With Guenther now gone, new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will need a formidable front four from the outset. When you take that into consideration, Rosseau getting drafted at number 17 is making more sense as we approach April.
As such, another NFL mock draft has joined CBS in this consensus. This time, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic has Las Vegas picking up the Miami EDGE rusher in his latest mock. Even though Rosseau opted out of the 2020 NCAA season, his 2019 production shows promise. That season, Rosseau posted 19.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, 15.5 sacks, and a pass defensed.
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Why would the Raiders consider Rosseau?
The lowly sack totals combined with the significance of having a potent front four means the Raiders could target an edge rusher early. Feldman went on to share some tidbits regarding Rosseau from coaches in his piece. One of those coaches emphasized this untapped upside though he did mention that Rosseau’s still learning the ropes in becoming a complete pass rusher.
“He was very raw, but he plays really hard and he’s just so long; it’s really difficult for people to block him. Even at about 265 (in 2019) he plays strong and is able to generate so much natural power.”
The concern with taking a player that’s considered raw by some coaches surely is a concern. At number 17, the Raiders need a player that can come in and make an impact from Day 1. Nevertheless, the upside is there with his size, frame, and length which will make him a nightmare to block in the NFL one day. Oh, and let’s not forget the resume of Rod Marinelli with coaching defensive linemen, this could possibly be a match made in heaven.
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