2014 NFL Draft: Raiders, Dolphins will host Ken Bishop
Northern Illinois Huskies defensive tackle Ken Bishop (93) puts pressure on Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Dayne Crist (10). Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Northern Illinois Huskies defensive tackle prospect Ken Bishop isn’t a well-known player and certainly doesn’t get anywhere near the kind of attention NIU safety and potential first-round pick Jimmie Ward does, but he’s a quality late-round option for teams looking for defensive tackle depth. Both the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders could afford to add another body at DT, and the National Football Post’s Aaron Wilson reported last night that Bishop will visit the Dolphins on the 11th and then meet up with the Raiders on the 15th.
Bishop is viewed as an enticing sleeper option at the position later on in the draft, and his ability to drive defenders back and beat them early are two big pluses. He produced at a solid rate last season with nearly 60 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss, and he has all the tools to be a quality rotation guy who can get into the backfield and disrupt plays.
The Raiders and Dolphins could use that kind of defensive tackle later on in the draft, and the Dolphins probably have more use for him. Both teams have stronger front sevens than secondaries, as the Dolphins defensive line is still great despite losing Paul Soliai (they were able to re-sign Randy Starks). The Raiders signed Antonio Smith and kept Pat Sims around with intriguing young gun Stacy McGee, so they could have a stacked group of DTs if Bishop is drafted and makes an impact as a rookie.