Raiders address huge need late in 2023 NFL Draft
The Las Vegas Raiders addressed one of their biggest needs, but they may have started too late in the 2023 NFL Draft.We went into this draft knowing the Raiders needed to address the defensive side of the ball. They did with their first pick as they got Tyree Wilson, an edge rusher, and then went […]
The Las Vegas Raiders addressed one of their biggest needs, but they may have started too late in the 2023 NFL Draft.
We went into this draft knowing the Raiders needed to address the defensive side of the ball. They did with their first pick as they got Tyree Wilson, an edge rusher, and then went defensive tackle in Byron Young and cornerback in Jakorian Bennett. But, that wasn't their only defensive needs.
They also had a need at linebacker, which they ended up addressing in the sixth round. With the 203rd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Amari Burney from Florida
Burney is a fine player, but I don't think he improves the linebacker room at all. That's a unit that needed a lot of help, especially since Denzel Perryman left for the Houston Texans. So, there is a possibility they may have waited too long to address the need. Now, of course we will have to wait and see but right now it looks that way.
But in college Burney was okay, and his stats show that he gradually got better. But he switched from defensive back to linebacker, and may be able to use that to his advantage. The Raiders need a linebacker who is good in coverage, and if he can show that he is, he will play.
In college at Florida he had 79 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four interceptions, 16 passes deflected, and two forced fumbles. Burney can be good, sure, but the boom isn't higher than the bust potential.
Here is what The Athletic's Dane Brugler had to say about Burney overall:
Amari Burney was a two-way starter at Calvary Christian High in Clearwater, playing all four seasons on varsity. He finished his prep career with 992 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns plus 182 tackles at safety. A four-star recruit, he committed to Florida (as a safety) over Ohio State and others. He moved to linebacker in 2019 and was a part-time player until his senior year, when he earned a starting weak side role and posted career highs across the board. Burney has done a nice job strengthening his body and honing his break-down and tackling skills. He will struggle to keep himself clean and doesn’t have the length to easily press blockers off him in the run game. Although his zone instincts let him down at times, Burney has the fluidity to transition and stay attached to backs and tight ends. Overall, Burney is caught in between safety and linebacker, but his speed and matchup skills in coverage are why NFL teams are taking a long look at him.
Right now the Raiders current linebacker situation is is Divine Deablo and Robert Spillane to likely be the starters. So, maybe he could make his way to the starting spot considering the competition isn't great.
