To be honest, I thought about finding my 2018 positional review and just copying and pasting it. I’m not sure there’s an article I look forward to less than this one — mostly because the Las Vegas Raiders simply refuse to address what has been a weakness for what seems like forever.
Then again, maybe there is room for optimism? Last season Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden turned the Raiders’ defensive line around — moving them from the worst group in the league back towards league average. Can they do the same with the linebackers this year?
Under Contract: Tahir Whitehead, Kendall Donnerson, Nick Usher, Te’Von Coney, Derrick Moncrief, Marquel Lee, Quentin Poling
Free Agents: Will Compton, Ukeme Eligwe (RFA), Vontaze Burfict, Kyle Wilber, Nicholas Morrow (RFA)
I mean, is there a single name in this group that moves the needle even a little bit? Not for me. Sure there are some fine rotational players, but when they’re asked to be starters in the NFL and cover guys like Travis Kelce, Noah Fant, Melvin Gordon and others it becomes depressing.
Inside Linebackers
Compton was a pleasant surprise late in the season, but really that tells you everything you need to know about this group. Here was a guy sitting at home for multiple weeks, and he was able to come in and look presentable — and it wasn’t because he was all-world. I’d take Compton back in a heartbeat just because I’m afraid of the alternatives, but even if he is back it better be as a rotational guy.
If there’s one thing I wish for the Raider defense, it’s a middle-of-the-field commander who sets the tone. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther thought he was getting that when he signed Burfict — but he couldn’t avoid stupid penalties, which got him suspended for the year. (He was also a step-and-a-half slow).
Outside Linebackers
Statistically, 2019 was a good year for Whitehead, who set a career-high with 108 tackles. On tape, though? Not so much. Whitehead benefited from playing among scrubs and, well, someone has to make a tackle every once in a while.
Overall
If you told me that every name on the list above was gone next season, I’d be thrilled. Honestly. Not a single one of them really belongs as an NFL starter — and let us all pray that Mayock, Gruden and Guenther figure that out ASAP.
