The Las Vegas Raiders could be in the market for a nose tackle to add to their rotation. Perhaps the former first-round pick (12th overall) from 2015, Danny Shelton, is the answer.
Do the Raiders need another defensive tackle?
Right now, the Raiders are carrying quite a load of defensive tackles in training camp. Johnathan Hankins, Bilal Nichols, Andrew Billings, and Kyle Peko are all competing for playing time. In addition, you also have this year’s draft picks, Matthew Butler and Neil Farrell Jr., rounding off the group. However, Shelton played for the current Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham last season in New York. Playing in Graham’s system, Shelton appeared in 13 games, recording one tackle for a loss, 12 solo tackles, and half a sack.
#Raiders are working out former 1st rd pick Danny Shelton. #RaiderNation
Shelton played with the #Patriots while McDaniels was there.— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) August 8, 2022
Originally a first-round pick for the Cleveland Browns, Shelton never really got things going, which is disappointing from a statistical point of view. In three years, Shelton only posted 1.5 sacks and seven QB hits. His best individual season came with the New England Patriots in 2019. That season, Shelton flourished with the Pats, recording career-high numbers across the board: three sacks, 61 total sacks, and six QB hits.
His familiarity with not only Graham but the Raiders’ new brass was pointed out by Pro Football Talk as well.
“Shelton entered the league with the Browns back in 2015. But Cleveland traded him to New England in 2018. That gives him familiarity with General Manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels, as they were all with the Patriots at the time.”
As of this publication, Shelton hasn’t been signed. It was simply a workout, but it’ll be worth monitoring this week. The Raiders are set to take on the Minnesota Vikings this weekend in Vegas, so maybe Shelton gets a live shot on the field for the Silver and Black.
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*Top Photo: Danny Karnik/AP
