For what seems to be the first time, in a very very long time, the Raiders prioritized their linebacker core this off-season, and I don’t think it will stop without a quality linebacker in April. Las Vegas inked both former Georgia linebackers Quay Walker & Nakobe Dean to 3 year contract this off-season. Walker, the highest paid of the two is coming off a 2025 where he logged 128 tackles, 8 TFL, and 5 PBU in 14 games. Walker has logged north of 7 TFL each season since 2023, and 100+ tackles in all
four of his NFL career. Walker hasn’t appeared in a full season of 17 games since 2022, and he’ll likely slide to a weakside linebacker role (the side without a TE) to allow him to work in space and be more active on the run game. Walker is an exceptional blitzer, but does have his struggles at times in coverage after allowing 51 receptions, 409 yards, and 3 TD along with a 108.3 QBR in 2025 off 65 targets. That said, Walker has allowed a 95 QBR in 2023 and 2024, and a 63.6 QBR in 2022. Moving to a weakside role, with more room to run in space, rely on his athleticism, and utilize his instincts should increase his coverage productivity, while maintaining a high effectiveness as a tackler with an elite 5.1% missed tackle rate in his NFL career including a career best mark of 3.8% in 2025.
In addition to Walker, Las Vegas added his former Georgia running mate, Nakobe Dean who’s coming off a 2025 season with 55 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks, a PBU, and 3 FF in just 10 games. Dean does have injury issues missing 7 games in 2025, 2 in 2024, and 12 in 2023. Overall, he’s shown exceptional athleticism, instincts, and a true every down linebacker impact ability but staying on the field is key. He’s fluid in coverage, and highly effective, allowing a career 83.6 QBR including back to back 80 QBR seasons in 2024 and 2025 where he’s coming off just 153 yards allowed, and Dean has yet to allow a TD in his career. Similar to Walker, he’s been an exceptional tackler with just a 7.4% mark in his career, including a 9.8% mark in 2025. Dean will control MIKE, Walker the weakside, and fellow free agent signing Segun Olubi will take the strongside/depth role. Olubi, primarily a special teams standout has some experience at linebacker with 60 tackles, 2 TFL, an interception, forced fumble, and pass breakup in roughly 250 snaps. Olubi has the size and athleticism, and he could see some decent time in a rotation alongside 2024 5th rounder Tommy Eichenberg, and 2025 7th rounder Cody Lindenberg. Eichenberg has had just 170 snaps of defensive experience but logged 50 tackles, 2 TFL, and 2 PBU in that time. He’s primarily a MIKE but can work at weakside as well. Las Vegas will mainly work with two linebackers, but they can rotate into three linebacker sets. In addition, adding depth will be crucial as both Dean & Walker have a banged up injury past.
Day 1 Targets:
I won’t touch on these backers much, but the class is exceptionally deep at linebacker, with the following projected to be consensus first round prospects:
- Sonny Styles, Ohio State
- Arvell Reese, Ohio State (EDGE rusher?)
- CJ Allen, Georgia
Round 2:
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech (Consensus: Late 1st to Mid 2nd)
HT: 6’1 | WT: 235 | Games: 56 (44 at ILB)
Career: 317 tackles, 25.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 6 INT, 12 PBU, 5 FR (2 TD), 13 FF | 34 pressures, 15% missed tackle rate, 80.2% reception rate (89/111), 909 yards, 3 TD, 91,0 QBR allowed
Rodriguez was a Heisman near finalist after his breakout 2025 where he logged 128 tackles, 4 INT, and 7 FF winning the Bednarik, Butkus, Nagurski, and Lombardi awards. Rodriguez is a former QB, and his time spent at quarterback does showcase at linebacker, he’s instinctual, and highly refined with an understanding of offensive systems, pass & run concepts, and overall has a knack to beat the QB to the spot routinely. Rodriguez has an aggressive downhill ability, and he fires off the first step to slice downhill and come make a tackle near or behind the LOS. Rodriguez is physical, he’ll fight through contact, and he has great hand combat skills to defeat blockers. Those hands show also in his excellent technique to go for the ball, consistently finding a way to punch the ball with pure technique, or rip and maintain ability to tackle. Rodriguez utilizes good sideline to sideline quickness, and has some subtle athleticism in short area bursts, which can be inconsistent as well though. Rodriguez has an ability to explode through cuts, and in coverage has a good field for movement, with an understanding of covering people not grass. His inexperience at linebacker shows in coverage, and he doesn’t have the best length either to get his hand into the contact point which can cause bigger tight ends or slots to get out of frame easily. Additionally, Rodriguez is instinctual vs the pass, but he struggles with the lack of experience to pair with average hip flexibility working backwards, and he can get stiff moving out of cuts. Rodriguez tackles well, but is inconsistent and inexperienced, with length being an issue. Those issues also show up in times where lineman can get onto his frame and drive him backwards. Rodriguez is a playmaker at linebacker, and despite his age, he will consistently make an NFL impact, but there’s issues that need to be refined and he can impact a defense early.
Anthony Hill Jr, Texas (Consensus: Mid 2nd)
HT: 6’2 | WT: 238 | Games: 40
Career: 249 tackles, 31.5 TFL, 17 sacks, 3 INT, 4 PBU, 2 FR, 8 FF | 52 pressures, 9.2% missed tackle rate, 82.8% reception rate (82/99), 625 yards, TD, 83.7 QBR allowed
Hill’s 2025 film honestly left a little to be desired, but his 2024 season was phenomenal where he logged 17 TFL, 8 sacks, an interception, and four forced fumbles in 16 games. Hill is physical, and he’s extremely athletic with true natural sideline to sideline ability. Hill’s a smart run defender, with violent hands and he fights through contact well, while also having exceptional length and strength at the POA to fight off blockers. Hill has a quick first step, moves well downhill, and his initial quickness out of cuts is heavily relied on to get to the spot first. The junior linebacker also has an ability to work as a pass rusher, pairing his first step quickness, with good ankle/hip flexibility, and the violence which allows him to loop and stunt or straight-line blitz. Hill usually works better forwards than backwards, but he can work well in coverage, though he has issues identifying concepts or getting into passing lanes. Additionally, Hill needs to do better keeping his eyes on the receiver, not just the QB. This same tunnel vision and aggression shows in the run game, where he will over pursue, abandon a gap, or get out of position causing an issue against the run. Hill is extremely athletic, and young, but he’s productive, which will translate to the NFL level immediately. The Longhorns standout produces on the ball, tackles well, and while he has limitations with development, there’s a real world to develop into an All-Pro caliber linebacker.
Josiah Trotter, Missouri (Consensus: Late 2nd to Early 3rd)
HT: 6’2 | WT: 240 | Games: 24
Career: 176 tackles, 18 TFL, 2.5 sacks, INT, 3 PBU | 26 pressures, 9% missed tackle rate, 88.3% reception rate (53/60), 526 yards, 2 TD, 107.4 QBR allowed
Trotter is exceptionally athletic, fluid, and shows a lot of high end instincts in both the run and pass game. He’s a run first linebacker, though his athleticism and instincts pair to show a lot of upside as a coverage linebacker. The Missouri product is a redshirt sophomore, and turns 21 in mid April, which leaves a lot of room for him to grow. He’s the best pure mover at linebacker in the class (that’s not Styles/Reese) and his lower body fluidity/flexibility is elite. Trotter has smooth natural hips, can turn on a dime, and he also cuts exceptionally well utilizing a quick first step. He’s an exceptional run defender, utilizing the first step, and lateral quickness, but also having good processing, instincts, and aggression which allows him to come downhill and impact the run close to the LOS. Trotter anchors well, is strong in his entire body, and his tackling form is well with improved tackling in just two seasons. Trotter has violent quick hands, which work off blockers and in blitzing situations. Trotter is relatively small length wise, which impacts him vs the pass game similar to Rodriguez as he can’t get into the point of attack as well as others. Additionally, bigger lineman will likely push him away till he’s able to utilize leverage more often. In coverage, Trotter has limitations, with a lack of short area quickness laterally/backwards which can cause him to get tight hips. He’s very inexperienced, which shows in his pass game understandings not having a full ability to read quarterbacks, step into passing lanes, or collapse lanes from other concepts. Trotter is young, he’s athletic, and his run defense will play at the NFL immediately. Las Vegas could look towards Trotter in the late 2nd/early 3rd to add another developmental linebacker with upside.
Round 3:
Jake Golday, Cincinnati (Consensus: Early 3rd)
HT: 6’4 | WT: 242 | Games: 50
Career: 288 tackles, 25.5 TFL, 11 sacks, 5 PBU, 3 FR, 5 FF | 61 pressures, 10.8% missed tackle rate, 73.5% reception rate (61/83), 482 yards, 3 TD, 99.6 QBR allowed
Golday, a former EDGE rusher at Central Arkansas, is going to be desired among NFL teams this year. He’s a fluid, extremely physical athlete at linebacker, who plays with the EDGE rusher mentality vs the run. Golday shows exceptional initial quickness, true sideline to sideline ability, and among the best true athleticism at linebacker in the class. He shows elite initial burst and lateral movement skills, with true sideline to sideline range and an ability to get upfield quickly to make an impact on runingbacks near the LOS. Golday is an extremely effective blitzer, has quick violent hands, and his ankle flexibility/hand combat from his time at EDGE that translated to the run game/pass rush at ILB. Golday has exceptional lower body movement skills, can drop into coverage well, and easily turns out of his cuts with speed and explosiveness. He’s a highly refined tackler, which for his limited time at ILB is impressive. Golday needs to get more time at ILB working through coverage, understanding passing lanes, and keeping his eyes not locked on the QB. Additionally, he’s a little slow moving sometimes on first step, not fully trusting himself, or he’ll overpursue being too confident. Golday is a raw prospect, but also refined in key aspects, he has limited time at ILB, but the Cincinnati prospect has a good runway to compete at the NFL and be an impact playmaker.
Kyle Louis, Pitt (Consensus: Early to Mid 3rd)
HT: 6’0 | WT: 220 | Games: 37
Career: 201 tackles, 25.5 TFL, 10 sacks, 6 INT (TD), 6 PBU, 2 FR, 2 FF | 51 pressures, 13.5% missed tackle rate, 76.5% reception rate (88/115), 737 yards, 3 TD, 79.5 QBR allowed
Louis is fascinating, he’s undersized, but he’s essentially a safety playing linebacker, and arguably I think Louis will not only be best aligned at strongside but potentially as a big nickel safety. His 2024 film was phenomenal, in a role relatively similar where he posted 101 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 4 INT, and 3 PBU. I don’t think I have seen someone with as fluid and as impressive movement skills as Louis, his hips and ankles work in unison, and Louis has the same lower body flexibility of most defensive backs. He has extreme initial quickness, lateral movement skills, and the ability to close short areas extremely quickly. Louis covers a ton of ground quickly, has a knack for coverage, and his ability to read and react is the best in the class. The Pittsburgh senior, diagnoses passing lanes well, steps in front of the ball consistently, and often will come across to find a read on the quarterback making a play on the ball. Louis’ lack of length does bother him at times in the run game, when he gets pushed around in the run game which will limit him playing true inside backer at the NFL level. Louis struggles at times as a tackler, where he lacks functional play strength, and he doesn’t look overly comfortable in the box. Louis is aggressive, but he can be reckless at times, jump a route too early, or overpursue an assignment in the run. The 21 year old, isn’t a traditional linebacker, but he shows an innate ability to cover and with his physical profile he matches up well vs slots, tight ends, and runningbacks which will make him an intriguing third round target.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU (Consensus: Late 3rd to Early 4th)
HT: 6’2 |WT: 235 | Games: 47
Career: 276 tackles, 19 TFL, 7 sacks, INT, 7 PBU, 2 FR, 2 FF | 48 pressures, 8.9% missed tackle rate, 71.8% reception rate (51/71), 506 yards, 3 TD, 99.9 QBR allowed
Elarms-Orr has flown up draft boards recently, largely with a strong combine/pro-day where the soon to be 23 year old posted a 4.47 40, 41 vert, 10-03 broad, and 4.41 shuttle at 6’2/234. He’s an excellent mover in space, and shows a phenomenal ability to diagnose, react, and run vs the run and pass. Elarms-Orr has a good initial trigger, explosiveness out of the cut, and true sideline to sideline ability with exceptional short area quickness and speed. Elarms-Orr is physical, and he’s aggressive which shows in the run game, where he’ll come downhill quickly, fight through contact, and tackles exceptionally well with great form, strength, and angles. The TCU product showed exceptional movement skills, athletic ability, and good instincts in both the run and pass, though he’ll need to refine his coverage abilities and stop relying on the athleticism to succeed. Elarms-Orr does have issues with his frame, at 235 and showing sub 30th percentile arm length. He gets swallowed up in the run game, and lineman do easily push him around at times, though Elarms-Orr understands leverage and shows an ability to dip and bend the corner to get through contact also. He’s experienced, but lacks the coverage traits, where he’ll be out of position, or not collapse the passing lane quickly due to slow reaction times, which NFL teams will take advantage of. He’s an elite athlete, and will make an impact downhill to start his NFL career, how far that can go depends how well he can adapt to coverage, and hone his athleticism to better understanding of passing angles, passing concepts, and routes. He’s an intriguing prospect in the late third if Las Vegas is to trade up and add another run defender to their room.
Round 4:
Aiden Fisher, Indiana (Consensus: Early to Mid 4th)
HT: 6’1 | WT: 232 | Games: 51
Career: 328 tackles, 22 TFL, 7 sacks, 3 INT (TD), 12 PBU, FR, FF | 52 pressures, 14.8% missed tackle rate, 73% reception rate (92/126), 729 yards, TD, 79.9 QBR allowed
Fisher is just a good football player, his ceiling may be slightly limited due to him being advanced in the aspects he is, but the Indiana and JMU standout will make NFL plays for a long time. Fisher is a true MIKE, despite his average to below average frame, and he’s highly instinctual at the position as well. Fisher shows an exceptional understanding pre/post snap, with good instincts to step into passing lanes, collapse the rushing lane, or adjust to make different coverage concepts. Fisher tackles well, but he does need to clean up the open field tackling at times. His length does become a factor, with Fisher getting swallowed up by bigger guards, and overall lacking an ability to get into the point of attack against some lineman, or receivers at the catch point. Fisher is a run first linebacker, but he works well in coverage also. His hips are average, with slightly above average initial burst and explosiveness out of the cut. Fisher works well coming downhill, diagnoses, and triggers, and will make a living as such in the NFL. He’s barely missed a game in his career, with just 1 miss in three years, but Fisher does have struggles also. He’s a consistent player, who also provides on special teams, and the lack of overall athleticism may prevent his future from being high, but he’s an impact plug and play day one starter that can contribute to a team on multiple phases.
Deontae Lawson, Alabama (Consensus:
HT: 6’2 | WT: 235 | Games: 52
Career: 283 tackles, 19 TFL, 6.5 sacks, INT, 3 PBU, 3 FF | 52 pressures, 14.5% missed tackle rate, 75.7% reception rate (103/136), 949 yards, 7 TD, 108.4 QBR allowed
Lawson has good size and length and as such he’s a true run defending first linebacker. Lawson has an aggressive downhill trigger, is able to diagnose the run well, and his hands are active/violent which allow him to work through contact consistently. Lawson has subtle short area quickness, but it’s inconsistent and his long speed doesn’t show as much as his 4.61 40-time would suggest. Lawson plays physical, and he plays violent, he’ll hit hard, wrap up well, and he’s aggressive. He has good feet, quick light lower body, and average hip flexibility which allow him to change directions well. He’s a good blitzer, utilizes his hands, and he’s also very instinctual working downhill. Lawson struggles to anchor at times, consistently getting pushed and driven backwards, his movement skills are very inconsistent, and Lawson also struggles in coverage. He’s a poor open field tackler, gets caught flat footed at the top of the cut too often, and he also needs to improve his pure coverage instincts and feel for working backwards. Lawson struggles to close the gap as well, which is concerning given his testing. The Alabama product is a capable third linebacker, and at worst quality depth, but he has to improve vs the pass to go any farther.
Taurean York, Texas A&M (Consensus:
HT: 5’11 | WT: 228 | Games: 39
Career: 229 tackles, 25.5 TFL, 7 sacks, INT, 7 PBU, 2 FR | 45 pressures, 10.4% missed tackle rate, 76.9% reception rate (60/78), 572 yards, 3 TD, 104.2 QBR allowed
When you see this you likely wouldn’t expect York to be a highly drafted player at 5’11, 228 with poor length also (30 inch arms). That said, York is fun and talented. He’s strong for his size, built almost purely of muscle, and he shows exceptional strength at the point of attack with a plus ability to anchor. The 22 year old is extremely electric, with a quick first step, explosive initial quickness, and exceptional ability to work both laterally and downhill giving him movement skills that aren’t accustomed to his size. York shows good acceleration and deceleration, which allows him to consistently make plays vs the run, and he pairs that with his size to consistently drive defenders down as a good consistent, clean tackler. He relies on his instincts and understanding of the position, finding a way to make an impact, close lanes, work pre and post snap, while also having a good feel for the position both forwards and backwards. As obvious, his frame is poor, and it will cause issues in the NFL most likely limiting him from full down work. He can get out physicalized in coverage, getting pushed around at the POA, and his weight does get him moved in the run game. Additionally, there’s times his short area movement, or work through combat is very underwhelming. There’s a world he goes undrafted, but the Texas A&M product has been nothing short of consistent, effective, and impactful which will translate even as a UDFA.
Harold Perkins Jr, LSU (Consensus:
HT: 6’1 | WT: 225 | Games: 43
Career: 220 tackles, 36 TFL, 17 sacks, 5 INT, 11 PBU, 2 FR, 9 FF | 89 pressures, 18.8% missed tackle rate, 76.5% reception rate (81/106), 751 yards, TD, 78.8 QBR allowed
Perkins originally started his career as an EDGE rusher, with a sensational 2022 season where he logged 41 pressures, 13 TFL, 8 sacks, and 4 FF in 14 games with another 17 QB hits and a 19.8% pass rush win rate. Perkins stayed at EDGE in 2023, did well, and tore his ACL/MCL in 2024 before converting to more of an off-ball role in 2025 where he’s succeeded. Perkins is undersized for an off ball position, or a true EDGE position as well, both of which are concerns. That said, he has good instincts, good initial movement skills, and an advanced understanding playing off ball for someone with such limited experience at the position. Perkins plays with violence & a very physical profile. He’s a read and react defender, with good movement skills initially, though his overall long movement or snappy short area burst is underwhelming. Perkins plays with anticipation, reacting well and jumping concepts, consistently finding a way to get on the ball. Despite this, Perkins struggles a lot vs the run, he takes poor angles, tends to ankle bite, and also isn’t a natural working downhill even showing a very below average initial trigger. Perkins doesn’t understand coverage at linebacker either, not knowing how to fully work backwards in deep drops only working the flats well. He’s a very raw prospect, who lacking true athletic traits, can limit him. Despite that, Perkins should hear his name in round 4 off the true versatility and a creative defensive coordinator can scheme him to production working as a diverse OTTO type.
Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma (Consensus:
HT: 6’5 | WT: 245 | Games: 54
Career: 293 tackles, 32 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 5 INT, 19 PBU, 3 FR, 3 FF | 53 pressures, 20% missed tackle rate, 67.6% reception rate (98/145), 656 yards, 10 TD, 94.2 QBR allowed
Daniels started his career at a true versatile safety in 2022 and 2023, logging nearly 800 career snaps at FS or SS, he played a good bit of nickel defender as well, but transitioned to a true strongside linebacker in 2024 where he’s been since then. Daniels also saw time in 2025 back at safety, but mainly as a nickel defender, and at 6’5/245 he’s going to play linebacker in the NFL. Daniels isn’t a true long runner, but he does showcase some high end initial movement skills for his size. Daniels works well in the box, has good burst, and he’s on the balls of his feet often leading him an ability to drive on the ball quickly out of breaks while never being flat footed. He’s very productive, comes downhill aggressively, and he’ll utilize his size/strength to box out lineman at the POA for a play on the running back. Daniels is a capable blitzer, using those same skillsets, and his physicality/violence will put him in a spot to succeed if he can hone other aspects. The Oklahoma safety/linebacker does struggle to tackle, not adjusting to the linebacker position well, having poor angles, and he doesn’t utilize his size as often as he should. Daniels is very not trusting in his instincts, needs to get better at reacting instead of being proactive, and he also has a rather poor feel for coverage despite his time at safety. The 23 year old does showcase an ability to cut, release, and close passing lanes at linebacker, but he’ll need to improve his overall ability to understand the position working backwards instead of forwards at linebacker.
