Raiders can get the best all-around linebacker in the second round
There are a ton of people that seem to forget that the Las Vegas Raiders lost one very important position this offseason. They lost their best linebacker, Denzel Perryman to the Houston Texans. Luckily for the Raiders, they have 12 picks in this draft. They have the seventh overall, where I'm willing to bet they […]
There are a ton of people that seem to forget that the Las Vegas Raiders lost one very important position this offseason. They lost their best linebacker, Denzel Perryman to the Houston Texans.
Luckily for the Raiders, they have 12 picks in this draft. They have the seventh overall, where I'm willing to bet they don't take a linebacker, and they have three other picks in the top 100. I can see them possibly taking a linebacker in the top 100 to replace what Perryman brought to the team.
The Raiders can actually get the best all-around linebacker in the entire draft in the second round. I don't know if they would go that direction with pick 38, but it certainly wouldn't be a bad pick. Drew Sanders, the linebacker from Arkansas, is that guy. Here is what Pro Football Focus thinks of Sanders:
Sanders started his college career as an edge rusher at Alabama before transferring to Arkansas and moving to off-ball linebacker this past fall. He flourished in that role, as his range and ability to take on blocks shined. He collected 11 sacks and 39 total pressures as a blitzer alone in 2022. Sanders’ 11 sacks and 39 pressures from a season ago are why he’ll be coveted in the league. Everyone wants the next Micah Parsons, and while he’s not that, Sanders can bring juice to a third-down package. You’d be wasting Sanders’ talent not to take advantage of what he brings to the table as a blitzer. He knows how to get home. – PFF
Sanders is the only linebacker ranked in the top 100 with 11 sacks in a season. He can play off the ball or he can play on the ball. Either way, he gets the job done. Sanders also has potential as a guy who can lead the league in tackles. His relentless pursuit makes him a guy that is always around the ball.
The Raiders need defense, at every position, including the linebacker spot. So, why not take the guy that is widely considered the best at his position and is the best all-around guy?
