Bilal

Nichols

Per Schefter, the deal includes $14.4 million in guaranteed money. Nichols has spent the last two years in Las Vegas, starting all 34 possible games for the Raiders. He tallied three sacks and eight TFLs in his two seasons with the team. Nichols also logged his first career touchdown, a short scoop-and-score in the Raiders’ Week 16 upset over the Chiefs. The deal will help bolster an Arizona run-defense that ranked 27th in EPA per attempt allowed last year.

Nichols is coming off of a year where he logged 31 tackles, four sacks, six hits, and a career-high 21 hurries. He is capable in both run defense and against the pass, ranking 55th among inside linemen in Pro Football Focus’ overall defensive grade in 2021. His signing should help a Raiders defense that teams were able to run on and hit with chunk plays in the passing game. The Raiders were able to get to the quarterback in 2021. If they tighten things up they could be a solid unit in 2022.

Nichols has been ruled out for Week 3. Coach Matt Nagy doesn’t believe Nichols will be placed on the injured reserve. His absence is bad news for the Bears’ defensive line depth, but the likes of Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd and Roquan Smith are plenty talented enough to keep the front seven at an elite level.

Nichols (6’4/306) made 21 starts on the Blue Hens’ defensive line, logging 16.5 career tackles for loss with 10.5 sacks and ten pass breakups. He was named a first-team FCS All-American in 2017. Nichols turned NFL scouting heads with 76th-percentile SPARQ results at the Combine, running a sub-five-second forty (4.95), pumping 29 reps on the bench, and measuring in with long arms (33 3/8") and big hands (10 ¼"). Nichols is a raw interior D-Line prospect with intriguing developmental upside.