Alim McNeill, N.C. State
Adding McNeill in the second round could end up being a steal for Las Vegas considering his upside. In three seasons at North Carolina State, McNeill proved to be an excellent run stopper with solid pass-rushing potential. As far as his numbers go, he accumulated ten sacks, 17.5 tackles for a loss, and five passes defensed over his collegiate career.
Pro Football Focus also believes that McNeill’s biggest strength coming into the NFL will be his run-blocking prowess. For the 2020 season, they graded him 92.1 in that department. With an overall grade of 90.7, McNeill would present tremendous value in the second round, more so if his pass rush moves improve. In all likelihood, he would strictly be a 0-technique nose tackle, clogging the line of scrimmage. In college, he specialized in this, literally moving the pocket single-handedly during games.
With time, and under the tutelage of the Raiders’ defensive coaching staff, McNeill has the potential to be a more complete defensive tackle. He already has the foundation in place with his size, raw strength, and play recognition. If his pass-rushing technique can be sharpened, a second-round selection would be more than warranted.
[tps_title]An Iowa defensive lineman[/tps_title]