Raiders Draft: Army edge rusher Andre Carter II
The Las Vegas Raiders could build for the future on defense this offseason and can do it for pretty cheap
The Las Vegas Raiders need help on defense and they need it now, but that's not to say they can't start looking toward the future in this upcoming draft. In other words, some of the players on their defense are getting up there in age, so why not start preparing now during the draft?
The Raiders don't have an urgent need when it comes to edge rushers, as they have Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones starting there, but they will have a need there soon. Jones didn't do much last year, and his age could be starting to catch up to him.
When that does happen, why not go ahead and be ready for it by drafting a young edge rusher in this draft? This class is full of guys who can get to the quarterback and put pressure on the pocket, so it's the perfect opportunity to build for the future.
Andre Carter, the edge rusher out of Army is the perfect guy to start developing now and has the potential to be great.
Here is what Pro Football Focus thinks of Carter:
Carter moves like an athlete and understands how to set up offensive tackles when rushing the passer. Carter isn’t the guy you want over a tight end or tackle just yet. Keeping him in space to the open side of the field is ideal to start his career. Carter’s lack of muscle mass stuck out like a sore thumb at the Senior Bowl. He was unable to train year-round to maintain weight due to training duties at Army, so it wouldn’t be outrageous to see him improve considerably in this regard in the coming years.
In 2021 Carter finished with 15 sacks, which is downright insane. Over the last three seasons, he has 20 sacks, which isn't bad, but his production did fall off in 2022. That just shows though that he has the talent and skill, but could use some development.
In 2022, Carter finished with a 22.7% pass rush win rate, which is also very impressive. Most of Carter's snaps came outside the tackle, where he lined up 562 times. Luckily for him, that's where Jones lined up all season as well.
Why not go ahead and snag him around pick 38 if he is available, and use him as a developmental piece for the future?
You can read the rest of the PFF profile on Carter here.
Featured Image Via Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
