Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones are difference-makers on the outside, but there's room for a playmaker inside, too. Dexter is good against both the run and the pass, and his ability to consistently get into the backfield lightens the burden for the rest of the defensive line.
The Raiders will be a popular choice for interior linemen on both sides of the ball. Breese would have been the choice had he been on the board, but Andrew Vorhees is stylistically a great addition on the other side of the ball. Putting Vorhees next to Kolton Miller and potentially 2022 rookie Dylan Parham would suddenly give the Raiders the kind of juice they had on the line when they were at their best with Kelechi Osemele, Rodney Hudson, and Gabe Jackson inside.
Just like the Commanders with Ricks for Young, the Raiders need to be more respectable in the secondary to play off Maxx Crosby disrupting things off the edge. They also have limited reliable coverage in a division loaded with top receivers and QBs. Ringo can be the athletic shutdown and playmaking type they need.
If either Skoronski or Johnson were available here, an offensive tackle would certainly be in play for the Raiders, as Alex Leatherwood has been a major disappointment. Four of the team's top corners—Trayvon Mullen, Rock Ya-Sin, Anthony Averett and Darius Phillips—are scheduled to become free agents. Smith is a confident and patient corner with good length and outstanding ball skills. Smith has five interceptions over the past two years.
It was a rough go for former Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood in Las Vegas, and the slide continued through training camp. The Raiders cut Leatherwood on Tuesday, so they really might need to look at OT next offseason.
Johnson is still working on transitioning from guard to tackle, and he probably projects better on the left side. Though that could be a tricky fit with Kolton Miller already playing there for Las Vegas, the Raiders might not have any choice but to address a potential hole.
This is a tough spot for Las Vegas. They need offensive tackle help in the worst way but they missed the boat with the draft's top three tackles all going before pick No. 12. Instead of drafting for need and overdrafting a player—something they have done routinely in the past—they opt to stick to their board and take the best player available.
Keele Ringo has a ton of fans in the draft community and could very well go in the top 10. Ringo is a long and explosive corner who has outstanding straight-line speed and ball skills. He has the physical gifts to develop into a true lockdown corner.
The Raiders need offensive line help as much as I need sleep after writing this 2023 NFL Mock Draft. Paris Johnson Jr. has gone as high as the top five in recent mock drafts, and for good reason.
A former five-star in the 2020 recruiting class, Johnson started at right guard for the Buckeyes last season. His quick feet and 6'6", 315-pound frame looked out of place on the interior and should provide a dependable floor at tackle. Much like many players at this point of the draft cycle, Johnson's selection here is riding on potential.
Early indications are it might be a down year at offensive tackle, but one who could rise quickly is Duncan. He showed a lot of promise last season, but his tape is littered with inconsistent moments. He has the light feet to match pass-rushers coming off the edge, though his hand placement and consistency as a run-blocker must improve. The Alex Leatherwood experiment seems to be entering its final stages of hope for Las Vegas, so adding Duncan would provide competition at right tackle with rookie Thayer Munford Jr. Duncan has a lot of similarities to Christian Darrisaw, a Vikings first-rounder in 2021, as a prospect.