HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — When the Raiders were looking to improve their roster in the offseason, two of their moves were to bring in a pair of former Georgia teammates accustomed to playing at a high level.
Linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker played on the Bulldogs' 2021 national championship team before going on to the NFL. Dean played for Philadelphia, winning the Super Bowl two seasons ago, and Walker was at regular playoff participant Green Bay.
They joined former Georgia teammate Eric Stokes, who enters his second season as a Las Vegas starting cornerback after signing a contract extension.
“It helps a lot to where like we got our own little things that we used to say throughout UGA,” Stokes said. "Even in the meeting room, we’ll make little jokes or whatever, like we used to do back in college. But it’s just another building block to it and we all are just happy to be here.”
Raiders first-year coach Klint Kubiak said bringing all three players together created instant chemistry.
“It’s a phenomenal program there (at Georgia),” Kubiak said. "Happy to have those guys and hope that their toughness rubs off on the rest of them.”
The Raiders could use the help.
They were 25th last season in allowing 25.4 points per game, though more middle of the pack in yards given up (317.8) because the Raiders' offense struggled to move the ball. That, in turn, kept the defense on the field, creating opportunities for opposing offenses to take advantage of a tiring set of defenders.
Las Vegas was last in the NFL with just 14.2 points per game and with 28:02 average time of possession.
So changes were made on both sides of the ball, the offense most notably upgrading its quarterback position by signing veteran Kirk Cousins and drafting Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza first overall. The Raiders also bring back Brock Bowers, another Georgia product, who has become one of the league's top tight ends and is having a strong training camp.
Then on defense, they brought in Dean and Walker.
Injuries have sidetracked Dean two of the past three seasons, but in 2024, he started 15 games for the Eagles' Super Bowl team and made 128 tackles, including nine for loss.
He missed Raiders organized team activities and minicamp this year because of an undisclosed injury, but has been a full participant in training camp.
Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard said Dean has brought a sense of “command, confidence,‘Robbie, get out of my huddle.'’'
"It feels good to have that at the (middle) linebacker,” Leonard said.
He was just as glowing in speaking of Walker's approach, saying “he loves to be coached hard.”
Like with Dean, Walker is searching for a new beginning in Las Vegas, but hasn't been dogged by injuries like his former and current teammate.
Walker started 57 games over four years with the Packers, including 14 last season. He reached triple digits in tackles each season and totaled 29 for loss for his entire tenure in Green Bay.
“I’m just trying to bring a certain intensity here, certain type of culture, a way guys should really play, which is the ‘Raider Way’, fast, physical, just with a certain type of attitude," Walker said. "But I’m not trying to come here and beat everybody else. I think everybody can say the right things, but it’s another thing to go out there and actually do it.
"So I’m just focusing on proving my point and proving myself right, proving the organization and my teammates right, and just going out there and playing the right way, and just let my play speak for itself.”
Dean and Walker are back with Stokes, who played for Georgia from 2018-20. Stokes produced a comeback season of sorts with the Raiders last season, starting a career-high 16 games and playing his first four seasons with the Packers. Pro Football Focus rated him the 14th-best cornerback last season out of 114.
The Raiders awarded him with a three-year, $30 million contract, with $20 million of it guaranteed.
“It’s a big family here to where it’s hard to leave here,” Stokes said. "You feel loved, you feel welcomed, you feel the energy from everybody in the building and it’s just pretty much contagious to where you want to build with, you want to grow with. You see the direction everybody going with, and you love it.”
Tight end Michael Mayer “busted his nose open” in practice Monday, Kubiak said, but noted the player will be fine. Wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. was back at practice after being helped off the field Sunday.
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