One of the most underrated moves so far in free agency has been the Raiders signing defensive tackle Maliek Collins. While he certainly doesn’t have the name recognition of a Cory Littleton or even Eli Apple, Collins might just turn out to be the team’s best free-agent signing this offseason.
According to Pro Football Focus, Collins had the eighth-best pass-rushing grade among interior defensive linemen. He also recorded an incredible 48 pressures in 16 games for the Cowboys. At only 24-years old, his best football is still might be ahead of him as he is only starting to scratch the surface of his ability.
According to ESPN’s pass-rush data, Collins had the fourth-best win rate of any defensive tackle last season. If they can find ways to keep in one-on-one situations, he could put up huge numbers in Las Vegas.
It will be fascinating to see how the interior defensive line rotation shakes out for the Raiders as defensive line coach Rod Marinelli is a massive fan of Collins. Could the Raiders slide Maurice Hurst to the 1-technique spot in order to get their best two interior rushers on the field? That is certainly a possibility. How do players such as Johnathan Hankins and P.J. Hall fit into the equation? What about Carl Nassib and his ability to play inside on pass-rushing downs?
If nothing else, Collins helps give the Raiders upside and depth at the defensive tackle position. Look for him to be the team’s Day 1 starter at under tackle and continue to improve as a pass-rusher over the next few seasons. If he can stay healthy, Collins has Pro Bowl potential at defensive tackle.
