Of the Las Vegas Raiders' 18 reserve/future contract signees last month, only two were drafted by the club.
One of them was 2023 seventh-round pick Nesta Jade Silvera, a defensive tackle out of Arizona State, whom the Raiders had originally signed to a four-year rookie deal worth $3.9 million.
Silvera played in all 12 games (10 starts) in his lone season with the Sun Devils. He compiled 56 combined tackles, including 4.5 for losses, which tied him for first on the team in the category. He also posted 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Prior to Arizona State, Silvera played four seasons at Miami (FL). In his final year with the Hurricanes, he made eight starts in 11 appearances, recording 38 combined tackles, including 5.5 for losses.
Silvera's 2020 season, his first as a starter, was his best as a Hurricane. He totaled 35 combined tackles, 8.0 for losses, a sack, and a forced fumble while starting in 10 of 11 games.
He would be named an All-ACC Honorable Mention for his 2022 campaign.
Silvera played in just two games for Las Vegas this season, posting only two combined tackles. The young defensive tackle was then waived by the Raiders in December. Two days later, he was signed to the team's practice squad.
Last month, Las Vegas signed Silvera to a one-year, $915,000 reserve/future contract.
The Raiders gave Silvera a second chance, and he deserved it. The 24-year-old defensive tackle was surrounded by a competitive defensive tackle room as a rookie, one that included Jerry Tillery, Bilal Nichols, and John Jenkins, who had a career season.
Nichols and Jenkins are both free agents, so it might end up being critical that Las Vegas did sign Silvera again.
From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
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