Raiders NFL Draft Prospect: DL Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin

The Las Vegas Raiders' defense needs a major overhaul, and one area of concern they should address during the 2023 NFL Draft is the interior of their defensive line.

Bringing in another veteran through free agency could be a consideration during the offseason. Still, this year’s draft offers plenty of high-caliber prospects ready to contribute from day one.

This offseason, the Raiders are expected to draft heavily on defense, so we'll be working alongside SI’s Draft Bible to get you the latest information on any potential players the Raiders might consider drafting.

“We’re going to continue to find players who fit what we look for, and continue to build this team in our vision, and I think we’re going to, at the same time, our goal is to win football games, and our goal for next year is to make an improvement over where we were this year,” Ziegler said.

Interior Defensive Lineman Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin Badgers

“If Benton develops more as a pass rusher, he has the chance to be one of the better defensive tackles in the NFL,” Draft Bible said of Benton.

At 6-4, 315 pounds, Benton has the build of the prototypical defensive lineman in the NFL, with excellent mass, density, and length.

Benton’s best season with the Badgers came in 2022 when he generated 35 tackles (20 solos), ten tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, and two pass deflections.

This rep from Wisconsin IDL Keanu Benton is beautiful 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/PK8sbtBivD
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) February 6, 2023

Benton's stat sheet might not reflect his game, as he often took on double teams and created opportunities for other skill players.

His quickness and athleticism at his size is impressive, which the Raiders could benefit from.

The nose tackle from Wisconsin was more known as a run-stopper, but his pass-rush abilities are not that far behind.

According to Pro Football Focus, Benton recorded a better pass-rush grade (83.6) than a run-defensive grade (65.2) last season.

Watch Keeanu Benton (#95) just bully two NFL players to sack Jack Coan. pic.twitter.com/eBNHY8TmQM
— John “Draft” Vogel (@DraftVogel) August 29, 2022

There are some characteristics in Benton's game besides having an elite pass rush that might set him back and prevent him from being selected early.

One is his conditioning, which will prevent him from becoming a three-down defensive lineman and having him more of a rotational player, but that might not be bad.

Benton was once considered as an early day three selection. Still, like many other prospects in this year’s draft, his performance at the Reese’s Senior Bowl solidified his status as the top senior defensive lineman and skyrocketed his draft stock.

Now projected as an early second-day draft pick, he could fall to the Raiders in the third round.

Benton will be one of the draft's biggest steals if he falls to the Raiders.

The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., from Thursday, April 25, to Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.

The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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