The Raiders finally turned their attention to their defensive line in the fourth round, drafting a Justin Ellis, a nose tackle out of Louisiana Tech, with the 107th overall selection.
Ellis is a large tackle, at 6’1” and 334 lbs. He has a good motor for a big player, says NFL Network’s Mike Mayock. Mayock said that Ellis didn’t show the laziness that plagues many large tackles. When Ellis was knocked to the ground, he would pop right up and continue to play.
Ellis has a low center of gravity, with a big belly and big backside, which allows him to dig in on run plays. He’s a better run stopper than he is a pass rusher. He’s struggled with weight and played much of last year in the 350 range instead of the 330s where he is now listed.
Nicknamed Jelly, Ellis was productive when healthy at Louisiana Tech, where he was their starting nose tackle. He has struggled with injuries in his college career, having some issues with a right ankle sprain which was, in part, due to his weight struggles.
If he can get his weight under control, he can be a very solid contributor and possibly even a special player over center for the Raiders.
The Raiders pick again at 116, unless they choose to trade the selection.
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