Although the Las Vegas Raiders were without All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby in Week 15’s contest against the Atlanta Falcons, their defensive line was able to perform quite well. On top of having four players register multiple pressures on Monday night, Sin City’s defensive linemen were able to combine for three sacks throughout the game.
Still; it never hurts to have additional help at a frequently-rotating position such as EDGE. On Wednesday, the Raiders continued bolstering their defensive line by signing second-year edge-rusher Andre Carter II off of the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad.
Carter II, a Navy alum, went most of his final collegiate year projected to be a first-rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft. Not only did the 6-foot-6 pass-rusher not wind up being a first-round selection, but Carter II went the entirety of the draft waiting for his name to be called.
It didn’t happen.
Once the draft concluded, Carter II went to Minnesota on a three-deal, $2.735 million deal. He was able to see the field during his rookie campaign, logging two tackles on 68 defensive snaps. On 49 pass-rushes, the undrafted free agent forced four pressures while hitting opposing quarterbacks twice.
Carter II will now join Sin City’s defensive ranks during the last three weeks of the season.
The inside scoop on Las Vegas Raiders’ new defensive end, Andre Carter II
While Carter II didn’t get much of a chance to show what he’s capable of during his debut NFL season, he was able to put plenty of good tape out during his time at Navy. There’s a reason he was widely thought of as a first-round selection, after all.
Most of the now-24-year-old’s production came during his 2021 campaign where he logged a conference-high 16.5 sacks in addition to a conference-high 21 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. In 8-of-14 contests, Carter II finished his day by taking down opposing quarterbacks more than once.
The production nosedived during his senior campaign, falling from 16.5 sacks in ’21 to 3.5 in ’22. Instead of taking down ball-carriers in the backfield 21 times, he was able to do so on only eight occasions.
That doesn’t mean Carter II was effective in 2022, however.
Despite notching a mere 3.5 sacks during his senior season, Carter II beat his blocker on 22.7% of pass-rush snaps.
Pro Football Focus had words of praise for the Raiders’ newest defensive lineman upon entering the National Football League, stating, “Carter II moves like an athlete and understands how to set up offensive tackles when rushing the passer.”
The bottom line
Carter II certainly still needs more time to perfect his football skills; something he was unable to focus on full-time while attending Army. With enough time to develop his technical skills, the ’21 All-American can transcend into a legitimate contributor for any club league-wide.
The Raiders may not be thinking that far ahead, however. It’s more likely Carter II is in Sin City to fill the void on the active roster left by Maxx Crosby heading to the injured reserves list and not much more.
In any event, it’s never a bad idea to bring in a potential-packed young player to fill a roster spot. That’s why Las Vegas made the move. Best case scenario, Carter II shows signs of being the first-round prospect he was once thought to be. Worst case, the 2-12 Raiders didn’t land a contributor during the final three weeks.
*Top Photo: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports