Raiders LB Nakobe Dean used the hatred formed from a bad situation in a positive way that somewhat helped lead him to Vegas
The Raiders got their linebacker in free agency, in Nakobe Dean, but he’s had a thing for Las Vegas since he was drafted.
Every player in the NFL, or in sports in general, has had something that has served a purpose as a roadblock at some point in their career. And maybe it’s not always a roadblock, but just a tough moment they have to get over. New Raiders linebacker Najobe Dean had one long before he signed with Las Vegas, but it had to do with that very city.
“I didn’t miss a game in college, I slide to the 3rd round, and I leave Vegas like I don’t ever wanna come back again,” Dean said on a recent podcast. “In OTAs, I was like, I can’t have a place have a hold on me. So, in the summertime before training camp, I just go back out to Vegas to train. I end up creating a footprint here.”
Dean didn’t let any of that get to him and actually turned that negative into a positive. And, now, you can make the case that spending so much time in Vegas over the years helped him make a decision to sign with them in the offseason. Now, Dean is hoping to be the best linebacker on the Raiders and elevate their defense in 2026.
What Nakobe Dean brings to Las Vegas
No matter what, he’s better than what the Raiders already had. The price is great when you think about what he can be at his best. The Raiders are bringing in a Super Bowl winner to teach this defense what it takes not only to be elite, but to win. Dean will be a great MIKE linebacker in Rob Leonard’s 3-4 defense.
Dean has posted the NFL’s highest sack rate since the start of 2024 among passers with at least 80 pass rushes. His 14.8% sack rate in 2025 also led the league (min. 25 pass rushes), and his 40.7% QBP rate was 2nd highest.
Now, of course, as an on-ball linebacker, he’s not always rushing the passer. Those are primarily just on blitzes. However, when he is called to blitz the passer, he is effective and elite. He only had four missed tackles last season, per Sports Info Solutions. The best part is, it feels like we haven’t yet seen the best of Dean. Hopefully, the Raiders can get that out of him.
