Welcome to this Las Vegas Raiders training camp segment! We will dive into the positions and dive into questions heading into training camp. It’s truly crazy that football is right around the corner and feels like yesterday that the season ended. Today we will shift to the defensive side of the ball and talk about the linebacker position!

Filling the Void

It truly feels like a lifetime ago where the Raiders had a dynamic presence in the middle of the field. For the longest time it was Kirk Morrison, but there have been a few stopgap options that have been nice. 49ers legend Navarro Bowman was a fun time, but for the last few years they’ve had Robert Spillane hold down the fort.

They obviously didn’t compete with the New England Patriots financially and that’s okay. But it’s definitely a void they need to fill. Spillane was quite good for the Raiders and held the fort down to anchoring the defense in the middle of the field. Spillane was essential in the run game and was a tackle machine. He set a career high in tackles and also in tackles for loss. Now he’s onto New England.

The Raiders did make two additions to the linebacker core. They signed Devin White and brought in former Dallas Cowboy Jaylon Smith. They are pegged to have a role. But can they fill the void to a degree?

Can White and/or Smith Deliver?

This is my biggest question. You can argue the Raiders should’ve drafted White in his draft year and he went on to be a staple on the Buccaneers defense. He’s a very familiar face with Spytek, so bringing him in makes sense in that regard. But one thing about White is that his play notably took a dive.

After being a staple for the Bucs, he was let go by the Eagles and then played just seven games for the Texans in 2024. He had 19 total tackles. This is a guy who averaged 113 per season with the Bucs. Health has not been on his side, which plays a factor in his declining play. With the Texans, he finished with a 58.4 grade in the run game and a 62.4 grade in the pass game. That’s concerning and that’s being generous on the matter.

White struggled mightily in the pass game and his change of direction skills were noticeable. Man coverage was not his strong suit. He could come out of the game in more passing situations, but he needs to be more self aware in the run game. Spillane was a run defending machine and that’s a hole that needs to be filled. If White can be HALF of what he was with the Bucs, the Raiders are in good shape.

Smith is competing for a role on this Raiders defense and is hoping to revitalize his career. It’s a very low risk with high reward potential and it’s worth the risk. He spent the OTA period working on everything, particularly pass coverage. The guy is fighting for his life like it depends on it.

Smith didn’t play at all last year, but did suit up in one game for the Raiders in 2023. The 29 year old is athletic and can be a massive boost to a position that has questions. He did make the Pro Bowl in 2018 before his play began to decline. He did have a nice season with the Giants in 2022, with 88 tackles and three tackles for loss. He also had 31 defensive stops.

The biggest question for Smith is can he revive his career and is be enough to fill the void at a position that has a massive need? Because the Raiders desperately need it or it could end up being an Achilles Heel as a whole.

This position arguably is the biggest question mark on the defense.