We’ve written plenty about the need for a nose tackle and why the slot cornerback in nickel alignments is vital for Rob Leonard’s Las Vegas Raiders defense. A lot of the success (or lack thereof) the Silver & Black will have defensively hinges on those two key position groups.
But much of Leonard’s aspirations hinges on Ronell Williams’ linebackers.
Advertisement
Williams, who is now the Raiders linebackers coach after spending there seasons on the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff (2023-25), brings nifty credentials to the desert. He initially served as the nickel cornerbacks coach in 2023 before moving to assistant linebackers coach in 2024 and adding defensive quality control coach to his title alongside assisting with the linebackers in 2025.
And Williams’ presence likely helped the Raiders sway free-agent prized addition Nakobe Dean to join the Silver & Black — and that right there counts as an “immediate impact”, no?
But Williams’ background coaching nickel cornerbacks is a boon for Las Vegas. The slot corner in Leonard’s defense is slated to do it all: Blitz, cover, and tackle. And that’s what’s going to be expected from the Raiders linebackers as it transitions from a 4-3 and 4-2-5 base alignments under the previous defensive boss (Patrick Graham, now Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator) and into a 3-4 base look under Leonard.
Advertisement
Before free agency began in mid-March, I dove into the key aspects of how the linebackers operate in a 3-4 defense and it was a piece written with the assumption Maxx Crosby was indeed gone and shipped to the Baltimore Ravens. Alongside that, the Raiders linebacker room heading into free agency was not ideal. But in that piece, I identified Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker as inside linebacker options in free agency and Kwity Paye as a strong-side outside linebacker option in free agency.
Lo and behold, the Raiders signed all three to three-year deals. Paye inked the richest deal ($48 million with $31.238 million guaranteed, according to Over The Cap) with Walker signing for $40.5 million with $28 million guaranteed) and Dean agreeing to a $36.03 million deal with $20 million guaranteed. The additions highlight a shift in philosophy as general manager John Spytek took a patchwork approach in free agency last offseason during his initial year as chief personnel man but attacked the position group with conviction this offseason remaking the room with productive names.
Instead of having just three or, in most instances, just two linebackers on the field in previous defensive schemes, expect the Raiders to field more in Leonard’s incarnation of the defense. Dean and Walker provide a good 1-2 punch from the get and traditional defensive ends like Crosby, Paye, Malcolm Koonce, to name a few, are slated to transition from pure hands-in-the-dirt ends to standup outside rushers. And traditional defensive tackles like Thomas Booker IV, Adam Butler, and Tonka Hemingway are set to play defensive end in the base 3-4 looks.
Advertisement
But while a lot of attention has been paid to the front three — particularly nose tackle — it’s the linebackers behind them that are expected to make plays. The three down linemen occupy the blockers by attracting double teams and the inside linebackers are expected to diagnose plays, fill the open gaps quickly, and punish the ball carrier. Said linebackers also must have the sideline-to-sideline speed to cover tight ends and running backs in space while keeping the defensive aligned.
The outside linebackers are expected to take advantage of occupied offensive linemen as pass rushers, run stuffers, and edge setters alongside being versatile to drop into pass coverage to keep the offense on its toes and be less predictable.
Leonard learned under both Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks head coach and defensive play caller) and Brian Flores (Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator) and both deploy systems where linebackers are used as chess pieces to disguise pressures and coverage pre-snap. Which means the group must be communicative and getting everyone else on the same page.
That’s where the additions of Dean and Walker comes into play.
Advertisement
Both are athletic and intelligent linebackers who can run sideline-to-sideline, have the leadership qualities to both command respect and communicate, and have a pre-built chemistry going back to their Georgia Bulldogs days.
Dean, at 5-foot-11 and 231 pounds, is the smaller of the two but his ferocious blitzing skills were on display the past two seasons and he has the high-level read-and-react skillset that should pay dividends for Leonard’s unit. Walker, at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds brings a tackling machine mindset who can run from one sideline to the other but also brings the size to pressure quarterbacks.
Their presence on the inside — assuming the duo wins the starting linebacker roles inside (most likely) — will help the entire unit play fast and loose as the group can look to make plays.
On the outside, Crosby is simply a game wrecker and whether he has his hands in the dirt or is standing up, the opposing offense must account for his presence down-to-down with 69.5 career sacks and 133 tackles for loss. Paye, meanwhile, may not have double digit sack totals year in and year out (highest outputs were 8.5 and eight in 2023 and 2024), but he’s a powerful edge setter who can stymie the run (30.5 career sacks, 37 career stops for loss). Koonce, meanwhile, started to regain the pass rush form he had pre-ACL tear late in 2025 and he provides another rush, run stopping presence.
Advertisement
As offseason activities proceed with training camp slated for early June, the pecking order will be sorted out but with four linebackers in the base formation, starting snaps, depth, and rotational roles are up for grabs. And the group that nets substantial snaps at linebacker will go a long way to dictating the success or failures of the Raiders defense.
Read the full article here