Clearly, adding firepower to the defensive line is the first priority for the Raiders in this year’s draft.
With the 70th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Las Vegas strengthens their interior by selecting Byron Young, a 6’3” 295 pound DT out of Alabama. Young spent 4 years anchoring the trenches for the Crimson Tide, recording 7.5 sacks, 130 total tackles in 45 games and winning a national championship in 2020.
Selecting Tyree Wilson in round one and pairing him with Chandler Jones and Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby improves the team’s ability to get after the quarterback.
Drafting Young points towards a desire to slow down opposing team’s rushing attacks, where the Raiders ranked in the bottom-half of the league (19th) last season.
“That’s what I was coached to do at Alabama,” said Young in regards to stopping the run game, moments after being drafted by Las Vegas. “That was our first job…we had to earn the right to rush the passer. Stop them on first and second down, make negative plays and make it an obvious third down, where they have to pass the ball.”
Despite being just 22-years-old, Young carries a level of class and pedigree after being coached by Nick Saban that should make him a positive in the locker room and not just on the field.
“My parents always raised me to be a winner,” said Young. “When I got to Alabama, that’s something we always harped on too. I haven’t lost many games in my career. I would love to improve the culture, go in there and impact everybody in a positive way.”
The Raiders are calling upon players like Young to do the dirty work, while edge rushers like Crosby and Wilson are going to acquire higher sack totals and thus more recognition.
However, if Young helps plug up the gaps in the interior, that is incredibly valuable to the defense as well. It is a unit that needs all the help it can get in 2023.
