The Las Vegas Raiders added linebackers this off-season with Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Segun Olubi but they still need to add depth to the position, and a swing on a late round flyer isn’t a bad idea. I broke down their options from rounds 2-4, and the class is very deep across the board which should give GM John Spytek the ability to find someone later on. Las Vegas has Cody Lindenberg and Tommy Eichenberg, but both work either on special teams or struggle in the pass game. Dean & Walker have an injury history, and the Raiders are going to be searching for someone who can take the role as a plug and play defender. Adding depth, and upside to the room is crucial, and for a rebuilding team you need to prioritize the second level under Rob Leonard, who’s defense runs through the linebacker.

Bryce Boettcher, Oregon (Consensus: Early to Mid 5th)HT: 6’1 | WT: 233 | Games: 55Career: 269 tackles, 17 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 INT, 11 PBU, 4 FF, 23 pressures, 10% missed tackle rate | 77% reception rate (66/86), 519 yards, 2 TD, 89.2 QBR allowed Testing: 4.69 40 (1.63 10-split), 34.5 Vert, 9’08 Broad, 4.30 Shuttle, 7.25 3-Cone, 21 reps | 7.14 RAS

Explosive first step, shows good core and leg strength. Has ability to cut backside as a tackler. Showcases good initial quickness and downhill trigger. Fluid smooth hips, good instincts in run and pass game, covers grass not people. Demonstrates good natural bend and ankle flexibility to bend the edge as a blitzer. Sideline to sideline range, natural feel for the position, triggers downhill aggressively and violent. The patient defender trusts his athleticism to wait around and make play happen. Elite tackler, excellent form, takes good angles. Ability to anchor vs interior lineman and hold up on interior run plays. Tendency to bite on play action, over aggressive and will abandon his gap at times. Coverage feel isn’t fully there for the adaptation to LB. Can struggle to get the right depth drop at times. Not fully familiar with the position. Patience can beat him, sometimes allowing big run when he can’t get to the edge. Average speed to the edge in run defense. Can run in man coverage exceptionally well, showcases previous experience as a baseball centerfield in a lot of phases. Boettcher has a massive ceiling, he just lacks true experience, but there’s a massive runway for him to succeed.

With MLB Opening Day it’s a good time to highlight #Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher as a Day 3 option in the Draft. 13th round pick in baseball, he’s noticeably intelligent and a really good tackler in run support. Has the tools to play in the NFL for awhile. pic.twitter.com/IhvHLHrxqu

Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State (Consensus: Mid 5th)HT: 6’2 | WT: 231 | Games: 52Career: 301 tackles, 29 TFL, 11.5 sacks, INT, 10 PBU, FF, 50 pressures, 19.1% missed tackle rate | 82% reception rate (103/126), 1045 yards, 2 TD, 103.2 QBR allowedTesting: 4.58 40 (1.66 10-Split), 38 Vert, 10’04 Broad, 4.28 Shuttle, 7.02 3-Cone | 8.74 RAS

Elliott transferred into Arizona State after his standout career at New Mexico, Elliott is a fluid good athlete, but there’s some severe limitations also. Elliott has a great motor, he’s efficient on special teams, and he’s best when working in space against the run. Elliott triggers downhill quickly, he works best near the LOS, and when working backwards things get a little concerning. Elliott shows a knack for finding the ball in coverage, he understands passing lanes, but there’s time’s that Elliott is slow to react, isn’t able to turn and run the best, and he looks lost in coverage as well. Elliott has fluid hands, he’s aggressive, and he’ll work through contact to come downhill and fight through defenders, he’s not overly aggressive, but he takes some poor angles and his lack of functional strength causes him to simply miss tackles or tend to ankle bite leading to the high missed tackle rate. Elliott’s a liability in coverage, his initial burst backwards is struggling, which leaves him exposed. He’s a true early down linebacker, and shows effort on special teams, very reminiscing to Tommy Eichenberg.

Jimmy Rolder, Michigan (Consensus: Late 5th to Early 6th)HT: 6’2 | WT: 238 | Games: 43Career: 118 tackles, 9 TFL, 2 sacks, INT, 2 PBU, 20 pressures, 5% missed tackle rate | 75% reception rate (37/49), 335 yards, TD, 91.8 QBR allowedTesting: 36 Vert, 9’11 Broad, 4.26 Shuttle, 7 3-Cone | 9.53 RAS

Rolder can easily be a highly productive NFL linebacker, but there’s some very clear limitations as well. He’s struggled with injuries missing most of 2023 and the end of 2024 as well, which has limited his experience at linebacker. He has exceptional instincts, works extremely well downhill, and Rolder shows a natural understanding of both running and passing concepts. He’s a fluid, strong, full body tackler who takes amazing angles, drives through defenders with his body, and simply is among the best, if not the best, tackler in the class. Rolder has an electric trigger, strong heavy hands, and he works through contact well in the run game slicing upfield. He’s shown good hip flexibility, can turn and run in coverage, and he simply works well in space. He has good initial quickness, a strong first step, and he can turn and run with majority of receivers showing true long speed and natural feels for coverage. Rolder won’t work sideline to sideline, and he can get pushed out near the box at times simply just lacking the fundamental understanding of the position. Additionally, Rolder is a good blitzer but he can be too aggressive at times as well where he’ll miss the sack, look for the big hit, and just not take the clear cut play he needs too as a blitzer (though he’ll be an elite blitzing linebacker in the NFL). Rolder has some things to clean up, but he’s a true three down linebacker, and at just 22 years old the ceiling is extremely high for him. The Raiders like Rolder, he fits what they are looking for, and is a no brainer in the fifth round, if he makes it that far.

Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder was a fun watch. Quality instincts, showed smooth change of direction+close, and excellent take on and finishing skills against the run pic.twitter.com/mVdYiCIbFR

Lander Barton, Utah (Consensus: Late 5th to Early 6th)HT: 6’4 | WT: 233 | Games: 46Career: 207 tackles, 17 TFL, 8 sacks, 5 INT, 9 PBU, 3 FF, 66 pressures, 17% missed tackle rate | 75% reception rate (59/70), 625 yards, 2 TD, 80.3 QBR allowedTesting: 4.8 40 (1.84 10-split), 33 Vert, 9’11 Broad, 4.4 Shuttle | 7.06 RAS

Barton is big, but there’s struggles. He’s not the fastest, struggles to change direction, and in coverage there’s some clear limitations in his hip flexibility. Barton does show good feel for coverage, he knows passing windows and he can step into them which helps him get a good bit of ball production, but he’s struggled to change direction and tends to cover people not grass. Barton is a run first linebacker, he has good instincts, and he does work well coming downhill, but not working backwards. Barton needs to get better working through contact, he doesn’t have a great anchor, and I’d like to see him do better dipping his pad level to get into the backfield and make a play. Barton doesn’t keep his weight balanced well, struggles to work laterally, and he’s very average in most of the game. Barton does well in the special teams role, and he can be a productive player on that phase with bottom of the roster depth at LB, with a very limited ceiling.

Justin Jefferson, Alabama (Consensus: Early 6th)HT: 6’0 | WT: 223 | Games: 41Career: 149 tackles, 13 TFL, 5 sacks, INT, 7 PBU, 3 FF, 14 pressures, 11.5% missed tackle rate | 72% reception rate (53/73), 465 yards, 0 TD, 83.4 QBR allowedTesting: 4.57 40 (1.59 10-split), 38.5 Vert, 10’05 Broad, 4.25 Shuttle, 8.81 3-Cone | 9.23 RAS

Jefferson landed at Alabama after a strong performance at JUCO, and he’s simply a pure athlete which puts him into a lot of situations. Jefferson shows elite athleticism in his lower body, he has natural hip flexibility, fluid ankles and he works his upper and lower body in unison which allows him to be effective vs the run and in coverage. Jefferson works as a blitzer, he is able to dip his hips, explode with an elite first step, and Jefferson overall can turn and run exceptionally well with TE, RB, and slot receivers acting almost as a big nickel cornerback instead of a linebacker. Jefferson is new to the position, but he’s still able to tackle well, has good form, and utilizes his full body into the rep which is impressive for the relatively undersized player he is. Jefferson’s lack of size and length do limit him, and he needs to add physicality to match better vs tight ends in the NFL where he will get moved around. Additionally, Jefferson struggles in the run game, where he gets pushed around at times, he’ll try to win with athleticism and abandons his gap, and Jefferson also struggles to utilize his hands to slice through contact. He has an average anchor, but will need to do better to add upper and lower body strength to allow him to anchor, drive, and prevent being washed out. Jefferson is the rare coverage specialist in the NFL, but he shows a willingness to defend the run, and he also shows an understanding of how to work in the run game but adding mass, and increasing the experience will allow him to adjust.

Falcons 30 visit/Alabama LB Justin Jefferson (6-0 3/8, 223) has what he needs at his size: speed (4.54) & explosiveness (38.5 vert,10-5 broad)Loves contact/compact thud into ball carriersTrusted in coverage-1/2 his snaps 5 sacks, 2 FF last two seasons pic.twitter.com/dCOSxpBDXl

Khalil “Red” Murdock, Buffalo (Consensus: Mid 6th)HT: 6’2 | WT: 232 | Games: 42Career: 364 tackles, 40 TFL, 9 sacks, INT, 3 PBU, 17 FF, 43 pressures, 12% missed tackle rate | 81% reception rate (75/92), 768 yards, 4 TD, 111.4 QBR allowedTesting: 4.75 40 (1.63 10-Split), 31.5 Vert, 9’06 Broad | 6.81 RAS

The last time the Raiders drafted a LB named Khalil from Buffalo, it worked out pretty well, so maybe that trend continues with Red. He holds the D1 record for career forced fumbles after leading the country in both 2024 and 2025 with 7 each season. He’s logged back to back seasons of 150+ tackles & 14+ TFL. Murdock has stiff hips, which do limit him when working backwards, and overall he likely won’t have a massive NFL impact in coverage. Murdock’s initial burst is average, he doesn’t do well changing directions in coverage, and overall just doesn’t look natural when working backwards. He understands passing lanes, but Murdock is exceptional working downhill. He’s violent, he’s aggressive, and he’s willing to punch someone in their mouth every rep. Murdock has an extreme knack for the ball, he’s a pure tackler who uses his full body but at times can get too aggressive and over-pursue, look for the big hit, or simply just miss the tackle by abandoning a gap. Murdock has active violent hands, he fights through contact, and he’s aggressive fighting through contact to get into the backfield. He works well laterally, has a good base, and Murdock overall just impacts the game as a run defender, and he will punch the ball out perfectly, get a strip, or simply make a hit to make a turnover. Murdock likely struggles in the NFL to find the field for his lack of coverage, but his run defense is elite, and he’ll make plays on special teams.

Buffalo LB Red Murdock (@redmurdock2) put together another outstanding season in 2025, earning 2nd Team AP All-American honors.The Petersburg, Virginia native finished 2nd in the nation with 142 tackles (13.5 TFLs), while adding 5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles.Murdock also owns… pic.twitter.com/sjf9GHdRtl

Owen Heinecke, Oklahoma (Consensus: Late 6th to Early 7th)HT: 6’1 | WT: 227 | Games: 39Career: 85 tackles, 12 TFL, 3 sacks, 4 PBU, 15 pressures, 19.3% missed tackle rate | 63% reception rate (19/30), 108 yards, 0 TD, 69.9 QBR allowedTesting: 4.62 40 (1.62 10-Split), 34.5 Vert, 9’11 Broad, 4.27 Shuttle, 7.15 3-Cone | 8.21 RAS

Heinecke originally played lacrosse for the first two seasons of his collegiate career, then shifted to linebacker where he saw little playtime till 2025 logging 74 tackles, 12 TFL, 4 sacks, ad 4 PBU. He is an extreme athlete, he has a quick first step, shows sideline to sideline range, and Heinecke does a good job working his hips and feet in unison. He’s shown a good ability to avoid defenders, relying on his athleticism over his pure strength and technique where he’s lacking. Heinecke does well working through contact, and he has a good trigger to come downhill, but he lacks the ability to fight through hand combat due to his lack of experience. Heinecke is exceptional going downhill, he plays well on special teams, with true find and react actions. His lack of experience shows in coverage, not understanding passing lanes, and he’ll be faked in route running at times leaving him off balanced consistently. He tries to rely on athleticism over technique, given the lack of experience, and that will be an issue in the NFL. He bites on play action, can over pursue a gap consistently, and Heinecke needs to do better tackling. His angles are average, he doesn’t utilize his full body, and he lacks length to really wrap up ballcarriers. Heinecke can be a starting NFL LB but he needs a lot of time, coaching, and pure experience. He’s an elite athlete, moves in unison, but there’s a lot of work to be done.

Jack Kelly, BYU (Consensus: Early 7th)HT: 6’1 | WT: 240 | Games: 25Career: 231 tackles, 42.5 TFL, 31 sacks, 2 INT, 15 PBU, 9 FF, 128 pressures, 18.5% missed tackle rate | 76% reception rate (70/92), 538 yards, 3 TD, 101.1 QBR allowed Testing: 4.57 40 (1.61 10-split), 37 Vert, 10’05 Broad, 4.18 Shuttle, 7.12 3-Cone | 9.72 RAS