Las Vegas Raiders NFL Combine Preview: Linebackers
The Las Vegas Raiders began conducting interviews with the linebackers taking part in the scouting events at the 2023 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind..Now it’s time to see them on the field.
34 of the 319 prospects taking part at the combine will be linebackers, many prospects with strengths that can help turn the Raiders' defense around.
The combine will showcase a large group of linebacker prospects and give the Raiders a final look at the group collectively before showcasing their skills individually at their Pro Days.
“The defenses are different. There's definitely more complex, I'd say, defensive schematic game at the NFL level. And so, again, that goes just into someone's ability to learn, someone's work ethic, and did they have the tools both from a personal and a mental skill set to put the work in to learn it,” Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler said during the Combine.
The Raiders hold the seventh overall selection in this year’s NFL Draft, and while it's possible the team might draft one of the top quarterbacks early, the door to select the best linebacker might come on Day Two of the 2023 NFL Draft.
This year's linebacker prospects offer plenty of potential outside the first round, and for the Raiders, that opportunity couldn't have come at a better time.
The full list of prospects attending the combine is listed here, but below are a few prospects the Raiders have talked to and will have a closer look at during drills.
Jack Campbell, Iowa
SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
Daiyan Henley, Washington State
Nick Herbig, Wisconsin
Isaiah Moore, N.C. State
DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati
Drew Sanders, Arkansas
Noah Sewell, Oregon
Henry To'oTo'o, Alabama
Trenton Simpson, Clemson
Dorian Williams, Tulane
COVERAGE: Campbell is a tackling machine; he was graded as the highest LB among power five schools (91.7) and was also the best coverage-graded linebacker (92.9) in college football. Covering tight ends and getting to the running back is very important in today’s passing game, which increases the value of a linebacker. Campbell can become the first linebacker to be taken off the board next month.
RUN-DEFENSE: Moore was the highest-graded run-defender among linebackers in FBS (94.4). Stopping the run has been a huge problem for the Raiders over the past few years, and getting a player like Moore on Day Three can ensure that the team is working on stopping the run at the second level.
Dennis can also help the Raiders stop the run, as he is graded as the second-best run-stopper among P5 schools (92.1), and he can easily be the second alternative if Moore is taken off the board.
VERSATILITY/BALANCE: Sanders, Sewell, To’oTo’o, Simpson, and Williams provide valuable help as versatile linebackers. They can all line up and play multiple schemes on defense. While they all have first-round talent, none are projected to be selected until the second and third rounds, giving the Raiders some wiggle room to cover other areas on the roster.
Pace Jr. was the highest-graded linebacker in college football, with an overall defensive grade of 93.2. A few flaws in his game and size have the all-purpose linebacker projected as a mid-rounder, a perfect spot for the Raiders that need all the help they can get.
OVERALL: The depth at linebacker in this year’s draft provides plenty of valuable prospects who can be reached past the first round and allow the Raiders to fill other far more important spots on the roster with their earlier picks.
The linebackers begin their drills today, Thursday, March 2, at 10 a.m. PST, along with the defensive lineman.
The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., from Thursday, April 17 to Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.
March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EST on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.
The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.
Watch the NFL Playoffs live when you get your Raiders tickets from SI Tickets HERE.
Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
