Bilal Nichols emerging as a force in ‘all areas’ on Raiders’ defensive line

By Case Keefer (contact)

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 | 2 a.m.

Maxx Crosby felt directly responsible for a late Patriots’ touchdown against the Raiders last Sunday when he drew a roughing the passer flag on a third-and-goal to extend a drive and see the visitors score on the next play.

The Raiders’ Pro Bowl edge rusher began going up to all his defensive teammates on the sidelines and telling them, ‘I got ya’ll,’ after the mistake.

But defensive tackle Bilal Nichols didn’t need to hear it. He told Crosby he already knew.

“I told him, ‘Bro, you’re going to end this game with a sack,’” Nichols said. “I literally called it, and that’s what happened.”

Nichols and Crosby combined to finish off the Patriots the next time they were on the field with a split-sack on quarterback Mac Jones in the end zone for a safety. It was a defining moment for the pair of defensive line starters that have grown close and now appear to be fully meshing a year and a half after Nichols signed with the Raiders.

Even though no teammate has ever been able to match his superstar level of production, Crosby has always had a primary sidekick on the defensive line ever since coming to the Raiders as a fourth-round rookie in 2019.

Early on, it was draft classmate Clelin Ferrell. Then, two seasons ago, he formed the best pass-rushing duo of his career with Yannick Ngakoue. Last year, Crosby and Chandler Jones were the unquestioned leaders of the defensive line.

The hope was that rookie Tyree Wilson, the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft, would eventually fill the void this year, but he’s struggled mightily and looks nowhere close to becoming a difference-maker yet on the professional level.

But, on the flip side, Las Vegas has begun to get better play than expected out of its interior defensive line. The Raiders have aggressively rotated players in up front, but Nichols is getting the most work and has been the most consistent force.

The game-ending sack with Crosby was just the topper as Nichols has put together the two best performances of his Raiders’ career in the last three weeks — against the Patriots and in a loss to the Chargers — per Pro Football Focus’ grading metric. And the game in between, a win over the Packers, rated as his fifth-best in silver and black.

Nichols will look to continue his upward trajectory Sunday when the Raiders (3-3) travel to take on his former team in the Chicago Bears (1-5).

“Bilal’s been a steady guy since we got him last year,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said. “He just works really hard at all the areas that are required at that position. He’s got to play the run and be physical inside, he works at pass rush diligently every single week that we’re out there. I think he’s improved in both areas.”

Nichols’ versatility is what has started to make him an asset for the Raiders. He came to the team known as a pass-rushing specialist but has actually graded out higher as a rush defender in Las Vegas.

The half-sack with Crosby was his first of the year, but he has five pressures and there’s optimism that he could produce more going forward. He had eight sacks and 62 pressures combined in his final two seasons in Chicago, leading to a two-year, $11 million deal in Las Vegas as one of the first free agents signed by new general manager Dave Ziegler two offseasons ago.

“I think right now I’m starting to find my rhythm,” Nichols said. “I’m able to get back to the way I like to play ball. My teammates have been helping me, they’ve been doing a great job and we have so much competition on the d-line.”

Competition in the interior defensive line has been a theme dating back to training camp, when many thought a quartet of young players (second-year draft picks Neil Farrell and Matthew Butler and rookie draft picks Byron Young and Nesta Jade Silvera) could push out the veterans.

Instead, it’s been the opposite. The Raiders traded Farrell to the Chiefs before the season, assigned Butler to the practice squad and have used the rookie duo sparingly.

Jerry Tillery, John Jenkins and Adam Butler have made for the bulk of the rotation with Nichols, though the former trio have all played more situationally. Nichols is the defensive tackle who’s shown he’s capable of being on the field in any situation.

He might have a ways to go before proving he’s deserving of the role as the main complement to Crosby on the defensive line, but he’s the leading candidate to be so right now.

“He’s the engine that drives the car,” Nichols said of Crosby. “He puts everything he has into this thing every single day, so it’s a pleasure to play with him. I love playing with him every day of the week.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or