Raiders Rookie Defensive Linemen: A Closer Look

The Las Vegas Raiders added depth to their talented defensive line this offseason. The biggest offseason acquisition was drafting rookie defensive end Tyree Wilson to play alongside Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby.

The Raiders have nine new players on their defensive line who will all try to earn spots on the 53-man roster after training camp ends.

In addition to Wilson, the Raiders selected two other defensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft to add depth to the defensive line. Those newly acquired defensive linemen are Byron Young and Nesta Jade Silvera.

Young played at the University of Alabama and participated in many significant college football games for the Crimson Tide. He won a National Championship, two SEC Championships and appeared in five bowl games.

Jade played four seasons for the Miami Hurricanes and then transferred to Arizona State, where he had a great senior year with the Sun Devils. The two combined rookies had 11 sacks and 117 solo tackles in their college football careers.

Both Rookies played under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during the Senior Bowl, where Graham was the National Team head coach.

Graham had the chance to speak to the media about his experience being the head coach in the Senior Bowl and being around guys like Byron Young and Nesta Jade Silvera.

"For most of the guys who I was around, and at some point during the week I was around all the guys, they were real receptive to coaching," Graham said. "They worked hard. It was a week-long process, and you're seeing that same attitude, that same work ethic out here on the field. Smart, tough, dependable players, that's what you're trying to build a team around."

The Raiders have also brought in two undrafted free-agent defensive linemen, George Tarlas and Adam Plant.

Tarlas was a three-time All-Big Sky performer at Weber State. He then transferred to Bosie State for his final college season.

Plant, a Las Vegas native, played his college ball at UNLV. Both are hoping to make the Raiders 53-man roster.

The Las Vegas Raiders open training camp for the entire team on July 25, 2023.

The Silver and Black open the preseason by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.

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