Raiders can get exactly what they need at one of their biggest needs on defense for cheap and they won't have to look very far
The 2025 NFL Draft is just around the corner, as we are only around a month away. That means it's almost time to start preparing for what the Raiders will do not only during the draft, but after the draft as well, in terms of which UDFAs they sign. The Raiders still have a ton […]
The 2025 NFL Draft is just around the corner, as we are only around a month away. That means it's almost time to start preparing for what the Raiders will do not only during the draft, but after the draft as well, in terms of which UDFAs they sign.
The Raiders still have a ton of needs left on the docket, and it's obvious they may be close to done with anything free agency related. Sure, they could still grab a few more players here and there, but the times of having bulk moves one after another within the span of five minutes are done, at least for this year.
Now the focus is on addressing those needs through the draft, and then addressing them with players that will play on the practice squad or be at the end of the 53-man roster, by way of acquiring them through the UDFA market.
Now, one of their biggest needs remaining is an inside linebacker, or a guy who can play off the ball a bit. They will probably address that need either through the trade market or through the draft. And, if they have to, the UDFA market. Luckily, there is a guy just down the street in town at UNLV that is very, very good, but because he played in the Mountain West conference, he's not being talked about enough. Shoot, he's not even on Pro Football Focus' big board at all.
He could go undrafted, or he could go on Day 3 of the draft — it's hard to really gauge where he is going to end up. But, we do know that he is mich better than what the national perception is of him, if there even is a national perception.
Jackson Woodard, the linebacker from UNLV, is a dog.
"Yeah, I have talked to the Raiders," Woodard said at his pro day earlier this week. "Man, it would be special to get to play for them. Like I said, I love the city, it's a second home. Pete Carroll getting the job is pretty big. He's going to do phenomenal things. Maxx Crosby is a phenomenal player, and it would be pretty fun to play with him — he's built the right way. He goes to work day in day out, and then you get to see it on the field, that's pretty special, and someone I'd love to share a locker room with… I just want an opportunity. I don't care when it is, undrafted, minicamp, drafted, first round, I just want the opportunity."
Woodard started his college career at Arkansas, where his defensive coordinator, Barry Odom, coached an elite defense. The only thing he didn't play much at all his first three seasons there, so he transferred to UNLV with Odom, who became the head coach.
He spent two seasons at UNLV, but last season, he was elite. Woodard led the Mountain West in solo tackles and finished the season with four interceptions. And, UNLV had one of the best defenses in the country statistically. As we said earlier, the Raiders will either have to use a Day 3 pick on him or they will have to sign him as a UDFA. Whatever they do, they need to get him.
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