The Raiders’ spending spree continues with a linebacker addition. With Las Vegas needing to retool at this position, Nakobe Dean will be asked to be a core performer.
Dean is joining the Raiders on a three-year deal worth $36MM, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Despite injuries hampering him regularly in Philly, the former third-round pick will score a $12MM AAV. Though, guarantees will be particularly notable on this pact.
Vegas is loading up at linebacker, with Dean being the B-side addition. The team just agreed to terms with Quay Walker as well. This has been a busy day for the AFC West team, which headlined its work with a record-obliterating Tyler Linderbaum contract.
Entering today with more than $120MM in cap space, the Raiders have joined the Titans on a spending spree. The team had no notable holdovers at linebacker, and the Walker-Dean tandem looks set to be the next options under Klint Kubiak. The Cowboys were believed to be eyeing Dean to follow new DC Christian Parker from Philly, but the Raiders had the cap space to outmuscle anyone today. They’re throwing weight around.
Dean essentially redshirted his rookie year, seeing Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards start for the Eagles’ Super Bowl LVII team. Philly gave Dean a starting job in 2023, but foot trouble limited him to five games. A resurgence in 2024 helped the Eagles to the NFC East title and the conference’s No. 2 seed, but a patellar tendon tear in the wild-card round brought another setback. Dean did not debut until Week 6 of this past season, making it a bit surprising the Raiders are signing off on a $12MM-per-year deal.
The Raiders, who lost Robert Spillane in free agency last year, have Devin White, Elandon Roberts and Jamal Adams unsigned. Despite promoting from within at DC (Rob Leonard), Las Vegas is importing some bigger names at LB this offseason.
The Eagles Defense is so much better when Makobe is in the lineup. Problem is, he misses too much time. No way they could afford him at that price, with all of the other guys they have to pay.
A lot of injury risk, but not an outrageous salary. Pairing him and Walker again is also just fun.
Not bad
Raiders sure signing a lot of guys and making moves:
Picked up two 1sts for Crosby
Signed:
LB Nakobe Dean
LB Quay Walker
WR Jalen Nailor
DE Kwity Paye
C Tyler Linderbaum
Traded for CB Taron Johnson
Are they a better team? I want to say yes, but it’s the Raiders.
Raiders looking to get some of that UGA toughness for their defense. Walker and Dean should work extremely well together with their familiarity with one another.
This was an excellent pair of signings for the Raiders.
Rarely does a losing team going on a spending spree in free agency work out for that team, but I really like what the Raiders are doing here. Linderbaum, Dean, and Walker are all lockerroom leaders and are winning culture guys.
If you want to turn around a losing franchise, these are the type of players you bring into your lockerroom. Excellent job by the Raiders, and I cannot believe I am saying that.
Wow Raiders are really making a splash this year!
Dean is a really, really good player when healthy. The only reason I’m okay with the Eagles letting him walk is because they have Baun and Campbell and Trotter Jr already.
Really liking what the Raiders have done. One of the top players in Linderbaum to anchor the line. Now they can add someone like Isaac Seumalo or get a guard with their 2nd first round pick.
They added two young linebackers in Dean/Walker at reasonable prices to help in their new 3-4 formation. Two guys for what Devin Lloyd is likely to cost 22-25M.
Plus resigned Stokes and traded for Taron Johnson for CB.
Not so enthused about Paye, but every other edge/DL seems to be commanding 20M plus.