Oakland Raiders: A few free agent defensive tackles worth looking at
By Kevin Saito
Though most would say that he’s sitting on the wrong side of 30, McDonald showed last year that he can still play at a high level.
With Tampa Bay in 2017 – his third team in his eight pro seasons – the former seventh-round pick racked up 29 total tackles (18 solo), had five sacks, and a pass defensed.
He amassed that stat line as a part-time, rotational player, appearing in 14 games while making just three starts. It’s also the third time in his career that McDonald has tallied at least five sacks on the interior of the defensive line.
At six-foot-one, 289 pounds, McDonald showed an ability to make a strong push up the middle, terrific athleticism, and a solid ability to shed blocks.
No, he’s not a dominant force. He’s not redefining the position. For most of his career, he’s simply been part of a rotation, making just 36 starts in his 97 career appearances. All points that will keep his price tag at a reasonable and affordable level.
What McDonald has been though, is pretty consistent. He’s shown an ability to not just take up space on the interior of the defensive line, but to be effective as well. He’s stout against the run and has shown that he can also be an effective pass rusher.
As part of a rotation with guys like Treyvon Hester and hopefully Denico Autry, should the Raiders re-sign him (spoiler alert – they should), Oakland could have a solid group of interior linemen. Guys who can be solid against the run, but also get a strong push up the middle.