Benito Jones Joins Raiders, Filling 3-4 Nose Tackle Need

The Raiders signed benito jones to address a clear need at nose tackle in their 3-4 base defense. To make room, they cut Brodric Martin, a roster move that gives the new front a 335-pound interior body with 38 career starts over the last three years.

Jones and Leonard

Jones enters a defense run by Rob Leonard, who was the assistant defensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins when Jones joined the league in 2020 as an undrafted free agent. That shared history gives the Raiders a veteran option at a spot they had not done much to address in free agency or the draft before this signing.

The fit is straightforward. Jones later became a starter with the Detroit Lions and has 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his career. For a Raiders front shifting into a 3-4 look, that kind of interior experience is what the roster had been missing.

Brodric Martin Leaves

Martin’s exit clears the path. The former third-round pick joined the Raiders last season but did not get on the field, and now his departure opens the spot for Jones on a defensive line that has already added more size through the draft.

The Raiders eventually brought in Brandon Cleveland in the seventh round. Cleveland was a two-year starter at NC State and posted 7 tackles for loss this year and 10 over the last two years, giving the team another interior option alongside Jones for the same defensive scheme.

Raiders Interior Depth

Jones now becomes the most experienced nose tackle-type addition on the roster. At 335 pounds, he brings the mass the Raiders need inside, while Cleveland offers a younger run-game presence after showing three-down value at NC State.

That leaves the Raiders with a clearer picture in the middle of the defense: Jones for the immediate role, Cleveland as a draft addition, and Martin no longer in the mix. For a unit built around a 3-4 base, the roster move points directly to how the team wants to line up on early downs and short-yardage snaps.