With all three Raiders starters returning next season, it’s hard to say how vital the Raiders think it is to draft one. Top free-agent addition Cory Littleton had a rough first season in Las Vegas, but the hope is that the issue was primarily Paul Guenther’s scheme along with having no offseason.
The team let Nicholas Morrow test free agency before he decided to re-sign, which could suggest they are not set on him as the answer at weakside linebacker. Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski both took paycuts as well. And 2020 third-round pick Tanner Muse is nothing more than a special teamer until proven otherwise.
Few players on this defense are assured their starting jobs next season and the Raiders have not invested a high pick on a linebacker since Rolando McClain. Add that they have a new defensive coordinator in Gus Bradley, and linebacker is the most difficult position to gauge in terms of the Raiders’ level of interest in the draft.
If they do go after a linebacker, here a few who could make sense for them.