Raiders Insider Podcast: Undrafted Free Agent Tackle Dalton Wagner
HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2023 NFL Draft in need of help on the offensive line.
They made seven quality picks through all three days of the draft, but none lined up on the offensive line.
But, Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler attacked the undrafted free agent market to address it, and he addressed it in a big way.
We have already reported on McClendon Curtis from Tennessee Chantaooga, YOU CAN READ THAT HERE, but the Raiders didn't stop there, adding other behemoths to their offensive line room.
Dalton Wagner is a massive 6-8, 320-pound offensive tackle from the University of Arkansas. He signed the largest undrafted free agent deal that General Manager Dave Ziegler has handed out in 2023 when he agreed to a $225,000 deal.
While Wagner has all the intangibles to play in the NFL, this young man, projected by most as a fifth-round selection, dropped for two reasons.
Neither of those was his character, but one was his penchant for injury, and the other was that he sometimes struggles to show a killer instinct at his size.
We spoke in our latest Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast episode with long-time Arkansas Razorback beat writer Any Hodges.
Hodges covered the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL for decades, and currently the Hogs for years, and he likes Wagner and his potential to do great things in the NFL if he can overcome those two hurdles.
Hodges said of Wagner: "He is a great guy and very personable. He has a great personality and is a great guy who you don't have to worry about off-field problems with.
"He has had injury problems. He certainly has the physical tools. He is great as an offensive lineman with his hands. He has a huge wing span. The problem is that the feet don't coordinate with the hands. He needs to get his technique down, footwork, particularly run blocking."
You can watch the entire podcast above.
The Raiders' offseason workout schedule is as follows:
OTA Offseason workouts: May 22-23, May 25, May 31-June 2, June 12-15
Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8
Rookie Minicamp: May 12-14
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