This offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders’ new leadership wreaked havoc on their defense. Surprisingly, they kept defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, but six of the team’s Week 1 starters from 2024 have left. This included the losses of two starting linebackers, Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo.
While general manager John Spytek replaced them with Elandon Roberts and Devin White, the majority of Raider Nation believed the team still needed to upgrade its linebacker corps following free agency.
Veteran Jaylon Smith was signed after the team only discovered seventh-round pick Cody Lindenberg in the 2025 NFL draft. Smith was viewed as a vital addition with Graham’s system expertise, with the potential to join the roster as the final solid component.
Jaylon Smith may be the odd man out in the Raiders’ linebacker room
However, in early June, the Cincinnati Bengals dismissed longtime starting linebacker Germaine Pratt, and the Raiders quickly signed him. Now that Pratt is expected to start alongside Roberts and White as the main reserve, Smith may be the odd man out in Las Vegas.
Experience is a vital commodity to provide to a young bunch, but the Raiders’ linebacker room is no longer as young. Three veterans are expected to take the majority of the snaps, but young players must remain on the roster to help the team grow for future seasons.
Tommy Eichenberg and Amari Gainer, second-year players, have also performed well this offseason, making things even more difficult for Smith. While the initial plan called for Smith to participate, the addition of Pratt sealed his fate.
Smith was a Pro Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys in 2019, but his production has declined significantly since then. He last participated in the NFL in 2023, playing one game for the Raiders before being waived two weeks later.
Pratt has been with the Bengals for the past six years and had a key role in the team’s Super Bowl run in 2021. He has 616 career tackles, including 32 for loss, seven interceptions, 23 passes defended, and seven caused fumbles.
Las Vegas might still rely heavily on linebackers and keep Smith in the rotation, but it is more probable that Pratt, Roberts, and White will take the majority of the snaps as Eichenberg, Gainer, and Lindenberg grow. This means Smith might be on the outside looking in by Week 1.
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