Last season, the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster had a glaring weakness at linebacker, hence the signing of veterans Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker during free agency. The Raiders shelled out over $75 million in total contract value between those two to fix the defense’s problem, but is that enough for the defense to have a pair of Top 5 second-level defenders in the AFC West? Let’s see how Las Vegas’ duo compares to the Denver Broncos’, Kansas City Chiefs’ and Los Angeles Chargers’ backers.
All stats referenced
below are from the regular season unless otherwise noted.
1. Daiyan Henley, Chargers
2025 Stats: 103 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 5 PDs (16 games)
Henley is entering just his fourth season and only has two years of starting experience under his belt, but is deserving of the top spot because he’s the most well-rounded linebacker in the division. The former college wide receiver is an impressive athlete to make plays on the ball in coverage, racking up 13 PDs over the last two seasons, including three interceptions. On top of that, he’s able to navigate through the trash as a run defender and make impact tackles. Throw 4.5 sacks during his two seasons as a starter in the mix, and it’s hard to find an area of the game that Henley doesn’t stand out in.
2. Nick Bolton, Chiefs
2025 Stats: 154 tackles, 10 TFLs, 1.0 sack, 6 PDs (17 games)
Bolton has made his mark as a run defender over the last five years. In 2025, he ranked tied for 11th among NFL linebackers with an 85.2 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus, due in part to collecting the sixth-most defensive stops (38) against the run. The former second-round pick has good ball production over the last two years with 12 PDs, but he also gets targeted frequently and often gives up a lot of separation, making him more of a two-down player.
3. Nakobe Dean, Raiders
2025 Stats: 55 tackles, 7 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, 1 PD (10 games)
Injuries are always part of the conversation with Dean, as he’d be a more highly regarded linebacker in the NFL without them. On the field, he has great instincts and acceleration to close in a hurry, either as a run defender or in coverage. Granted, the Georgia product doesn’t have good ball skills with only five PDs over 47 career games (27 starts). But Dean has the potential to be one of the league’s best blitzers, as he’s a running back’s worst nightmare in pass protection, accumulating seven sacks over the last two seasons. All of that being said, the free agent signing has to get back on the field after missing the Raiders’ entire spring practice sessions.
4. Quay Walker, Raiders
2025 Stats: 128 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 5 PDs (14 games)
Physically, there’s no reason that Walker shouldn’t be one of the league’s elite linebackers. Coming out of college, the 6-foot-4, 241-pounder posted a 9.63 Relative Athletic Score with his testing numbers during the pre-draft process. So, he has the size, strength and movement skills to be a complete second-level defender, and there have been plenty of flashes of brilliance during his four-year career so far. However, Walker hasn’t been consistent because his instincts still aren’t up to snuff, which is a critical factor of playing the position.
5. Drue Tranquill, Chiefs
2025 Stats: 103 tackles, 10 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 1 PD (17 games)
Tranquill has had an interesting career, where he’s bounced back and forth between being a regular starter. The seven-year pro seems to have found his niche as a downhill linebacker in both phases of the game, showing the ability to shoot gaps against the run and close in coverage. That helped him post a career-high 89.4 PFF run defense grade last season, sixth-best among NFL linebackers. But the Notre Dame product is pretty limited outside of that role.
Honorable Mention: Alex Singleton (DEN)
