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Raiders Insider Podcast: Undrafted free agent NC State LB Drake Thomas

The latest Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast offers a scouting report on undrafted free agent linebacker from NC State, Drake Thomas, with Tony Haynes.

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders have signed a myriad of undrafted free agents, and today, we offer a scouting report on one who has a great chance of making the Silver and Black's roster in Drake Thomas, a linebacker from North Carolina State.

The Raiders entered the 2023 NFL Draft in need of help at linebacker. 

They drafted Amari Burney from Florida but added another exceptional college linebacker from the NC State Wolfpack, Drake Thomas as a free agent.

The Raiders made seven quality picks through all three draft days and several important UDFA choices.

Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler attacked the undrafted free agent market to address the linebacker need, which he addressed with the quality addition of Thomas.

We have already reported on McClendon Curtis from Tennessee Chantaooga; YOU CAN READ THAT HERE.  

Additionally, we reported about another quality offensive lineman via the UDFA route Dalton Wagner from the Arkansas Razorbacks.  YOU CAN READ AND WATCH THAT HERE.

Thomas got better every season while playing for the Wolfpack and played his best against the best competition.

Tony Haynes is the radio play-by-play voice of the Wolfpack, and he joined us for our latest episode of the Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast to break down the person and player that Drake Thomas is.

You can watch the entire podcast here:

Here are a few of the topics Haynes and I discussed about Thomas:

*When did Drake Thomas first flash his NFL potential?

*Why did Thomas fall out of the 2023 NFL Draft?

*What are the intangibles that made Thomas set himself apart as one of the elite ACC defensive players?

* While not speedy, Thomas plays fast.

*Does Thomas offer position flexibility?  What other spots can he play?

*Does he have a love of the game that matches the passion the Raiders are looking for?

*Not the biggest or the fastest, Drake plays with exceptional technique.  Where does that come from?

*How good is Thomas tackling in space?

*Is Thomas a film room rat?

The Raiders' offseason workout schedule is as follows:

OTA Offseason workouts: May 22-23, May 25, May 31-June 2, June 12-15

Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8

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