Former Las Vegas Raiders free-agent defensive tackle Bilal Nichols reached an agreement on Monday on a three-year, $21 million deal that includes $14.4 million guaranteed with the Arizona Cardinals, according to a source. The Cardinals also added defensive tackle Justin Jones in free agency on Monday, so the addition of both interior linemen will really shore up a weak spot in the middle of the defensive line for the Cardinals. The 27-year-old Nichols spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Chicago Bears before racking up 41 solo tackles, three sacks, eight tackles for loss, 13 QB hits and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the last two seasons with the Raiders. Nichols can be ignored in IDP fantasy leagues, but he'll no doubt be a boost to Arizona's interior defensive line next season.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Bilal Nichols has been separating himself from the rest of the pack during offseason workouts, as he's rarely left the starting lineup in practices open to the media. Nichols signed a two-year, $11 million contract last year and was expected to be a difference-maker, but he finished with only 44 tackles (11th on the team), four tackles for loss (tied for third) and 1.5 sacks (fourth). He was solid against the run but only had 30 QB pressures (tied for 100th in the NFL). The Raiders need the 26-year-old to be a more disruptive force in the backfield in 2023. If the Raiders are going to improve on defense this year, they are going to need Nichols and a few other defensive lineman to step up.
Bilal Nichols Getting A Two-Year Deal From Raiders
Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Bilal Nichols is getting a two-year, $11 million deal from the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday, according to sources. The deal comes with $9 million guaranteed. Nichols has started 49 of the 60 games he's played in in his first four NFL seasons with the Bears after they selected him in the fifth round in 2018 out of Delaware. The 25-year-old posted a career-high 51 tackles (26 solo), five tackles for loss, nine QB hits, three sacks and two fumble recoveries in 17 games (15 starts) in 2021. Nichols should help the Raiders in both run and pass defense, although his biggest contributions should come in run defense for a Raiders team that struggled in that area last year.
