Silver And Black Pride
Last season, the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster had a glaring weakness at linebacker, hence the signing of veterans Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker during free agency. The Raiders shelled out over $75 million in total contract value between those two to fix the defense’s problem, but is that enough for the defense to have a pair of Top 5 second-level defenders in the AFC West? Let’s see how Las Vegas’ duo compares to the Denver Broncos’, Kansas City Chiefs’ and Los Angeles Chargers’ backers.
All stats referenced below are from the regular season unless otherwise noted.
2025 Stats: 103 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 5 PDs (16 games)
Henley is entering just his fourth season and only has two years of starting experience under his belt, but is deserving of the top spot because he’s the most well-rounded linebacker in the division. The former college wide receiver is an impressive athlete to make plays on the ball in coverage, racking up 13 PDs over the last two seasons, including three interceptions. On top of that, he’s able to navigate through the trash as a run defender and make impact tackles. Throw 4.5 sacks during his two seasons as a starter in the mix, and it’s hard to find an area of the game that Henley doesn’t stand out in.
2025 Stats: 154 tackles, 10 TFLs, 1.0 sack, 6 PDs (17 games)
Bolton has made his mark as a run defender over the last five years. In 2025, he ranked tied for 11th among NFL linebackers with an 85.2 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus, due in part to collecting the sixth-most defensive stops (38) against the run. The former second-round pick has good ball production over the last two years with 12 PDs, but he also gets targeted frequently and often gives up a lot of separation, making him more of a two-down player.
2025 Stats: 55 tackles, 7 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, 1 PD (10 games)
Injuries are always part of the conversation with Dean, as he’d be a more highly regarded linebacker in the NFL without them. On the field, he has great instincts and acceleration to close in a hurry, either as a run defender or in coverage. Granted, the Georgia product doesn’t have good ball skills with only five PDs over 47 career games (27 starts). But Dean has the potential to be one of the league’s best blitzers, as he’s a running back’s worst nightmare in pass protection, accumulating seven sacks over the last two seasons. All of that being said, the free agent signing has to get back on the field after missing the Raiders’ entire spring practice sessions.
2025 Stats: 128 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 5 PDs (14 games)
Physically, there’s no reason that Walker shouldn’t be one of the league’s elite linebackers. Coming out of college, the 6-foot-4, 241-pounder posted a...
