One of the positions that the Raiders must address this offseason is defensive tackle. They were hopeful that the additions of Bilal Nichols and Andrew Billings were going to be enough in 2022, but that just wasn’t the case.
What the Raiders really need is a player that can get up the field and create a pass rush. Luckily, there are a few of those types of defensive tackles in this year’s draft:
In a recent article by ESPN’s NFL Draft experts, they wrote about some of the top performers at the 2023 Senior Bowl. That list included Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton, who has been the star of the week. Here is a snippet of what Matt Miller had to say about the former Big Ten defensive tackle:
“Benton flashed multiple times throughout the second day of practices, showing power on a 6-foot-4, 312-pound frame. He has a stout, stocky build but showed the first-step quickness and agility to handle playing in a 3-technique role. Benton can consistently rush from the inside and win (4.5 sacks and 18 pressures in 2022), and we saw a really nice spin move in practice.”
Benton has been the star of the Senior Bowl as he’s won just about every one-on-one rep. With another strong showing on Thursday, he’ll firmly establish himself as a top-50 pick and a potential target for the Raiders in Round 2.
