Las Vegas Raiders' new linebacker Devin White isn't what fans think he may still be entering the 2025 season
The Las Vegas Raiders needed a new linebacker after losing Robert Spillane to the New England Patriots and Divine Deablo to the Atlanta Falcons. Earlier this week, the Las Vegas Raiders attempted to sign linebacker Christian Elliss, a restricted free agent from the New England Patriots, by submitting an offer. It looked like Elliss would […]
The Las Vegas Raiders needed a new linebacker after losing Robert Spillane to the New England Patriots and Divine Deablo to the Atlanta Falcons.
Earlier this week, the Las Vegas Raiders attempted to sign linebacker Christian Elliss, a restricted free agent from the New England Patriots, by submitting an offer. It looked like Elliss would join the Raiders in 2025. However, the Patriots matched the offer, keeping him in New England and stopping the Raiders from landing a key player. Now, the Raiders are still searching for a linebacker to pair with their new addition, Elandon Roberts, who previously played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Friday, they signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston texans linebacker Devin White, to a one year deal. Usually, when it's a one year deal with a guy who was once a starter, but hasn't been a starter since after a few years of being on the bench or on the practice squad, then it's a prove deal. That's exactly what this is.
This is not a deal for a starting linebacker, even though Roberts got a one-year deal worth $3 million. Could White end up starting? Yes. But the deal in place is to prove he can get to that level, with no guarantee of anything.
And getting to that level may be the hardest thing for White.
Devin White has all the traits and skills to be a very good linebacker in this league, but he’s his own worst enemy when it comes to overpursuing plays and playing with too much aggression. He’s extremely athletic and can be used as a pass rusher in certain situations/schemes, but at this point, it’ll be a surprise if he lands anything more than a backup job with the Raiders. – Evan Winter, A to Z Sports Tampa Bay
White didn't play much last year. He was off and on the Texans' practice squad, as well as the Eagles before that just trying not to go inactive that week. But when the Texans suffered some injuries and suspensions, he was forced to play 88 total coverage snaps last year for the Texans. In those 88, he wasn't very good, finishing the year with a 75% deserved catch percentage allowed. In other words, when he was targeted, his catch percentage allowed when factoring in catchable balls that the opposing QB threw was very high.
White is much better in the run game, but you have to be able to cover at the linebacker position, especially on a defense like the one Pete Carroll and Patrick Graham like to run. There is going to be a lot of times when White is asked to stick to a zone in the middle if the field and if he can't, it's going to show big time.
White has the potential, but he is the biggest person stopping him.
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The Raiders need to get this right regardless.
