Raiders know exactly what they’re getting in Thomas Booker after trading for him, but there’s still one big issue
The Las Vegas Raiders trading Jakorian Bennett is a bit of a head-scratcher, for sure. No matter what certain media members tell you, you don’t just trade away a guy like Bennett, who was amazing last year through an injury, because he doesn’t fit the scheme, or because he isn’t taller than 6’0”. That just […]
The Las Vegas Raiders trading Jakorian Bennett is a bit of a head-scratcher, for sure.
No matter what certain media members tell you, you don’t just trade away a guy like Bennett, who was amazing last year through an injury, because he doesn’t fit the scheme, or because he isn’t taller than 6’0”. That just doesn’t make sense — you find a way to make a guy like that work. The best reasoning there could possibly be is that he just hasn’t bounced back from his injury as he had hoped.
But that’s all old news — we’ve already discussed that enough. Now, it’s time to move on and focus on what the Raiders got in return from the Philadelphia Eagles for Bennett, and that’s defensive tackle Thomas Booker.
Raiders get Thomas Booker from Eagles for Jakorian Bennett
I know there are some people out there who heard the trade and immediately started searching to see who the guy was. Well, for starters, he played on the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive line, and in the interior, too, which is probably the best interior in the entire league. So, just because he didn’t play much, it doesn’t mean he’s bad.
And before we dive into who Booker is a bit, it’s important to note that the Raiders just hired Anthony Patch, a former Eagles scout, as their Senior Personnel Executive. So, maybe they know something we don’t.
The Eagles had already mentally moved on from Thomas Booker IV as soon as they drafted Ty Robinson in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, so it’s no surprise that they were quick to let him go. Vegas gets a quality rotational piece in Booker IV that has the potential to do more if they need him to. As the Eagles’ sixth DT in 2024, Booker IV stayed healthy and saw action in all 17 games, recording 18 total tackles, including two tackles for loss, four pressers, one sack, and a pass defended. He added another eight pressures and a sack in Philly’s postseason Super Bowl run. He has definitely improved over the last two years, just not fast enough for the Eagles. — Kelsey Kramer, A to Z Sports Philly
If you take a look at Booker’s tape, you will find him in the backfield a lot, or, in other words, near getting a sack or tackle for loss in the run game. He has something to him, like a movement that can’t be taught at his size. The production, though, just isn’t there on the stat sheet.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t good. The jury is now out on that. There is an issue, though.
The Raiders don’t really need depth at the position. Sure, they do, but they will have a hard time getting him on the field between Adam Butler, the two defensive tackle rookies they just drafted, Jonah Laulu, who’s had a huge camp, Leki Fotu, and Zach Carter?
I’m not sure how yet, but I do know that the Raiders’ first unofficial depth chart does have one of those defensive tackles they drafted in this past draft in Tonka Hemingway, as a defensive end. And that makes sense, because we knew he was a bit of a tweener, and that does give Booker more opportunity. J.J. Pegues, the other rookie, is projected to be a third string defensive tackle based on the unofficial depth chart.
Only time will tell how this all unfolds.
