Raiders Draft Prospect: DE Marshawn Kneeland, WMU

The Las Vegas Raiders are at a point in the offseason where they are focused on the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Raiders are looking to add young talent to their roster in hopes of winning in the short term and building a core for the long term.

The draft is a long and complicated process, but Raiders fans should feel optimistic that Coach Antonio Pierce and General Manager Tom Telesco will be able to figure it out.

The Raiders are looking for players who love football and want to compete on every snap. Under Pierce, almost every player on the team took on that identity.

One player who could fit that identity as well is Western Michigan defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland. One of the best defensive linemen in the Group of 5 in 2023, Kneeland, has entered the NFL Draft.

Kneeland finished his Broncos’ career with 149 total tackles, 28 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and 12.5 sacks. A Second-Team All-MAC member in 2023, Kneeland had an impressive week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., potentially improving his draft stock.

Kneeland has the typical ‘tweener’ size for a defensive lineman, too big to be a true defensive end but too small to be a defensive tackle. He stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 275 pounds. However, his size could be a good thing, as he could be scheme-flexible, potentially fitting into multiple defensive fronts.