Raiders Draft Prospect: DE Myles Cole, Texas Tech
The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to add talent through the 2024 NFL Draft, hoping to stack back-to-back draft classes to form their future foundation.
The Raiders were close to the postseason in 2023 after Coach Antonio Pierce took over. Now, he is the permanent head coach, and the Raiders will try to build off the momentum they created to end last season.
The Raiders were strong defensively, especially in their defensive endroom. Maxx Crosby was a Defensive Player of the Year finalist, Malcolm Koonce broke out in his third season, and Tyree Wilson made strides as a rookie.
Still, the Raiders could add more depth to their edge rusher group. One player they could consider in the later rounds is Texas Tech’s Myles Cole. Cole was a Wilson teammate at Texas Tech for one season before the Raiders selected Wilson in the first round.
Cole, a transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, finished his college career with 85 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for losses and five sacks. He played in the Senior Bowl and participated in the NFL Scouting Combine.
Texas Tech's Myles Cole is a large, athletic presence off the edge and could be that for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK
At the Combine, Cole showed off his athleticism. He ran a 4.87 40-yard dash and had a 35-inch vertical jump. He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 278 pounds, giving him great size to be an NFL defensive end.
There is a lot to like about Cole on tape. He is explosive off the snap and has quick, strong hands and long arms, making it challenging to stop against offensive linemen. He also has the athleticism to occasionally drop back into coverage if a running back leaks into the flat.
When Cole rushes the passer, he is relentless with his hand usage and strong lower body. His pad level is often lower than his match-up, which gives him leverage to win the rep when he comes off the snap.
While Cole is a good athlete and uses that off the edge, he is not very technically refined and does not have many pass-rush moves he puts to use, often relying on his athleticism to win reps. He has to develop a pass-rush move or two to survive at the next level. He also has stiff hips, which don’t allow him to bend around the edge.
Cole is projected to be a day-three selection. If the Raiders want to add depth to their edge rusher group, they could select Cole and bank on his athleticism.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.
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