The Las Vegas Raiders are scouting linebackers for the 2026 draft, focusing on adding depth to their roster. Key prospects include Bryce Boettcher from Oregon, Keyshaun Elliott from Arizona State, and Jimmy Rolder from Michigan.
Key points
Raiders added linebackers Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Segun Olubi.
Bryce Boettcher is projected as a mid-5th round pick.
Keyshaun Elliott transferred from New Mexico to Arizona State.
Jimmy Rolder has faced injuries impacting his experience.
Bryce BoettcherKeyshaun ElliottJimmy Rolder
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher and fellow members of the Oregon defense celebrate a fumbled punt return recovery as the Oregon Ducks host Portland State in the Ducks season opener Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
The Las Vegas Raiders added linebackers this off-season with Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Segun Olubi but they still need to add depth to the position, and a swing on a late round flyer isnāt a bad idea. I broke down their options from rounds 2-4, and the class is very deep across the board which should give GM John Spytek the ability to find someone later on. Las Vegas has Cody Lindenberg and Tommy Eichenberg, but both work either on special teams or struggle in the pass game. Dean & Walker have an injury history, and the Raiders are going to be searching for someone who can take the role as a plug and play defender. Adding depth, and upside to the room is crucial, and for a rebuilding team you need to prioritize the second level under Rob Leonard, whoās defense runs through the linebacker.
Explosive first step, shows good core and leg strength. Has ability to cut backside as a tackler. Showcases good initial quickness and downhill trigger. Fluid smooth hips, good instincts in run and pass game, covers grass not people. Demonstrates good natural bend and ankle flexibility to bend the edge as a blitzer. Sideline to sideline range, natural feel for the position, triggers downhill aggressively and violent. The patient defender trusts his athleticism to wait around and make play happen. Elite tackler, excellent form, takes good angles. Ability to anchor vs interior lineman and hold up on interior run plays. Tendency to bite on play action, over aggressive and will abandon his gap at times. Coverage feel isnāt fully there for the adaptation to LB. Can struggle to get the right depth drop at times. Not fully familiar with the position. Patience can beat him, sometimes allowing big run when he canāt get to the edge. Average speed to the edge in run defense. Can run in man coverage exceptionally well, showcases previous experience as a baseball centerfield in a lot of phases. Boettcher has a massive ceiling, he just lacks true experience, but thereās a massive runway for him to succeed.
Q&A
Who are the top linebacker prospects for the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 draft?
The top linebacker prospects include Bryce Boettcher from Oregon, Keyshaun Elliott from Arizona State, and Jimmy Rolder from Michigan.
What are Bryce Boettcher's key stats and strengths as a linebacker?
Bryce Boettcher has 269 tackles, 17 TFL, and 4 sacks, showcasing explosive speed and elite tackling ability, though he lacks experience.
How does Keyshaun Elliott perform in coverage as a linebacker?
Keyshaun Elliott has shown limitations in coverage, often struggling to react quickly and missing tackles, making him more suited for early downs.
What challenges has Jimmy Rolder faced in his football career?
Jimmy Rolder has struggled with injuries that limited his playing time, but he is recognized for his exceptional tackling skills and understanding of game concepts.
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With MLB Opening Day itās a good time to highlight #Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher as a Day 3 option in the Draft.
13th round pick in baseball, heās noticeably intelligent and a really good tackler in run support. Has the tools to play in the NFL for awhile. pic.twitter.com/IhvHLHrxqu
Elliott transferred into Arizona State after his standout career at New Mexico, Elliott is a fluid good athlete, but thereās some severe limitations also. Elliott has a great motor, heās efficient on special teams, and heās best when working in space against the run. Elliott triggers downhill quickly, he works best near the LOS, and when working backwards things get a little concerning. Elliott shows a knack for finding the ball in coverage, he understands passing lanes, but thereās timeās that Elliott is slow to react, isnāt able to turn and run the best, and he looks lost in coverage as well. Elliott has fluid hands, heās aggressive, and heāll work through contact to come downhill and fight through defenders, heās not overly aggressive, but he takes some poor angles and his lack of functional strength causes him to simply miss tackles or tend to ankle bite leading to the high missed tackle rate. Elliottās a liability in coverage, his initial burst backwards is struggling, which leaves him exposed. Heās a true early down linebacker, and shows effort on special teams, very reminiscing to Tommy Eichenberg.
**Jimmy Rolder, Michigan (Consensus: Late 5th to Early 6th)**
HT: 6ā2 | WT: 238 | Games: 43
Career: 118 tackles, 9 TFL, 2 sacks, INT, 2 PBU, 20 pressures, 5% missed tackle rate | 75% reception rate (37/49), 335 yards, TD, 91.8 QBR allowed
Testing: 36 Vert, 9ā11 Broad, 4.26 Shuttle, 7 3-Cone | 9.53 RAS
Rolder can easily be a highly productive NFL linebacker, but thereās some very clear limitations as well. Heās struggled with injuries missing most of 2023 and the end of 2024 as well, which has limited his experience at linebacker. He has exceptional instincts, works extremely well downhill, and Rolder shows a natural understanding of both running and passing concepts. Heās a fluid, strong, full body tackler who takes amazing angles, drives through defenders with his body, and simply is among the best, if not the best, tackler in the class. Rolder has an electric trigger, strong heavy hands, and he works through contact well in the run game slicing upfield. Heās shown good hip flexibility, can turn and run in coverage, and he simply works well in space. He has good initial quickness, a strong first step, and he can turn and run with majority of receivers showing true long speed and natural feels for coverage. Rolder wonāt work sideline to sideline, and he can get pushed out near the box at times simply just lacking the fundamental understanding of the position. Additionally, Rolder is a good blitzer but he can be too aggressive at times as well where heāll miss the sack, look for the big hit, and just not take the clear cut play he needs too as a blitzer (though heāll be an elite blitzing linebacker in the NFL). Rolder has some things to clean up, but heās a true three down linebacker, and at just 22 years old the ceiling is extremely high for him. The Raiders like Rolder, he fits what they are looking for, and is a no brainer in the fifth round, if he makes it that far.
Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder was a fun watch. Quality instincts, showed smooth change of direction+close, and excellent take on and finishing skills against the run pic.twitter.com/mVdYiCIbFR
Barton is big, but thereās struggles. Heās not the fastest, struggles to change direction, and in coverage thereās some clear limitations in his hip flexibility. Barton does show good feel for coverage, he knows passing windows and he can step into them which helps him get a good bit of ball production, but heās struggled to change direction and tends to cover people not grass. Barton is a run first linebacker, he has good instincts, and he does work well coming downhill, but not working backwards. Barton needs to get better working through contact, he doesnāt have a great anchor, and Iād like to see him do better dipping his pad level to get into the backfield and make a play. Barton doesnāt keep his weight balanced well, struggles to work laterally, and heās very average in most of the game. Barton does well in the special teams role, and he can be a productive player on that phase with bottom of the roster depth at LB, with a very limited ceiling.
**Justin Jefferson, Alabama (Consensus: Early 6th)**
HT: 6ā0 | WT: 223 | Games: 41
Career: 149 tackles, 13 TFL, 5 sacks, INT, 7 PBU, 3 FF, 14 pressures, 11.5% missed tackle rate | 72% reception rate (53/73), 465 yards, 0 TD, 83.4 QBR allowed
Testing: 4.57 40 (1.59 10-split), 38.5 Vert, 10ā05 Broad, 4.25 Shuttle, 8.81 3-Cone | 9.23 RAS
Jefferson landed at Alabama after a strong performance at JUCO, and heās simply a pure athlete which puts him into a lot of situations. Jefferson shows elite athleticism in his lower body, he has natural hip flexibility, fluid ankles and he works his upper and lower body in unison which allows him to be effective vs the run and in coverage. Jefferson works as a blitzer, he is able to dip his hips, explode with an elite first step, and Jefferson overall can turn and run exceptionally well with TE, RB, and slot receivers acting almost as a big nickel cornerback instead of a linebacker. Jefferson is new to the position, but heās still able to tackle well, has good form, and utilizes his full body into the rep which is impressive for the relatively undersized player he is. Jeffersonās lack of size and length do limit him, and he needs to add physicality to match better vs tight ends in the NFL where he will get moved around. Additionally, Jefferson struggles in the run game, where he gets pushed around at times, heāll try to win with athleticism and abandons his gap, and Jefferson also struggles to utilize his hands to slice through contact. He has an average anchor, but will need to do better to add upper and lower body strength to allow him to anchor, drive, and prevent being washed out. Jefferson is the rare coverage specialist in the NFL, but he shows a willingness to defend the run, and he also shows an understanding of how to work in the run game but adding mass, and increasing the experience will allow him to adjust.
Falcons 30 visit/Alabama LB Justin Jefferson (6-0 3/8, 223) has what he needs at his size: speed (4.54) & explosiveness (38.5 vert,10-5 broad)
The last time the Raiders drafted a LB named Khalil from Buffalo, it worked out pretty well, so maybe that trend continues with Red. He holds the D1 record for career forced fumbles after leading the country in both 2024 and 2025 with 7 each season. Heās logged back to back seasons of 150+ tackles & 14+ TFL. Murdock has stiff hips, which do limit him when working backwards, and overall he likely wonāt have a massive NFL impact in coverage. Murdockās initial burst is average, he doesnāt do well changing directions in coverage, and overall just doesnāt look natural when working backwards. He understands passing lanes, but Murdock is exceptional working downhill. Heās violent, heās aggressive, and heās willing to punch someone in their mouth every rep. Murdock has an extreme knack for the ball, heās a pure tackler who uses his full body but at times can get too aggressive and over-pursue, look for the big hit, or simply just miss the tackle by abandoning a gap. Murdock has active violent hands, he fights through contact, and heās aggressive fighting through contact to get into the backfield. He works well laterally, has a good base, and Murdock overall just impacts the game as a run defender, and he will punch the ball out perfectly, get a strip, or simply make a hit to make a turnover. Murdock likely struggles in the NFL to find the field for his lack of coverage, but his run defense is elite, and heāll make plays on special teams.
Buffalo LB Red Murdock (@redmurdock2) put together another outstanding season in 2025, earning 2nd Team AP All-American honors.
The Petersburg, Virginia native finished 2nd in the nation with 142 tackles (13.5 TFLs), while adding 5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles.
Heinecke originally played lacrosse for the first two seasons of his collegiate career, then shifted to linebacker where he saw little playtime till 2025 logging 74 tackles, 12 TFL, 4 sacks, ad 4 PBU. He is an extreme athlete, he has a quick first step, shows sideline to sideline range, and Heinecke does a good job working his hips and feet in unison. Heās shown a good ability to avoid defenders, relying on his athleticism over his pure strength and technique where heās lacking. Heinecke does well working through contact, and he has a good trigger to come downhill, but he lacks the ability to fight through hand combat due to his lack of experience. Heinecke is exceptional going downhill, he plays well on special teams, with true find and react actions. His lack of experience shows in coverage, not understanding passing lanes, and heāll be faked in route running at times leaving him off balanced consistently. He tries to rely on athleticism over technique, given the lack of experience, and that will be an issue in the NFL. He bites on play action, can over pursue a gap consistently, and Heinecke needs to do better tackling. His angles are average, he doesnāt utilize his full body, and he lacks length to really wrap up ballcarriers. Heinecke can be a starting NFL LB but he needs a lot of time, coaching, and pure experience. Heās an elite athlete, moves in unison, but thereās a lot of work to be done.
Kelly transferred to BYU after two standout seasons at Weber State with 85 tackles, 20 TFL, 17 sacks, INT, 8 PBU, and 5 FF where he worked almost primarily off the EDGE with some experience dropping into coverage also, BYU converted him to a fulltime ILB but also saw him get some clean pass rush situations. His 128 pressures on just 550 attempts is the highest of a draft eligible off ball LB since Micah Parsons. Kelly has a good frame, good lower body strength, and he utilizes his core well. His tackling is inconsistent, but frequently heās in place to make a play others canāt make but still itās a tough play driving up his misses. He has good ability to fight through contact as a run defender, and his elite hand combat skills will translate at LB in the NFL, working downhill. Kelly has a quick first step, he works well in space, and his initial trigger is elite, with an innate ability to slice through combat. Kelly is still learning in coverage, he doesnāt get the passing lanes down, and he also needs to do better getting his hand in during the point of attack, or finding the ball in the air. Heās not overly physical, looks for the big hit, and can be an ankle biter as well. Kelly is adjusting to the position, heās a good athlete, and he shows the ability to rush the passer, work against the run, or take short yardage passing concepts. Thereās a lot of tools, but a lot of work needed.
**Jack Dingle, Cincinnati (Consensus: Late 7th to UDFA)**
HT: 6ā4 | WT: 232 | Games: 45
Career: 164 tackles, 10 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 PBU, 2 FF, 35 pressures, 13% missed tackle rate | 77% reception rate (40/52), 494 yards, 5 TD, 137.8 QBR allowed
Testing: 4.57 40 (1.57 10-split), 33.5 Vert, 10ā04 Broad, 4.17 Shuttle, 7.10 3-Cone | 9.82 RAS
Dingle is among the best, if not the best, pure athlete at the position in the class. He has great length, good lower body power, and he simply has a massive blend of speed, power, explosiveness, and strength but he struggles in a lot of factors as well. Dingle is a good tackler, he can ankle bite at times, and he can also look for the big hit, but overall Dingle does well wrapping up, using his full body, and making a consistent player. He understands the run game well, covers the gap, and wonāt over pursue either. Dingle has a good first step, his hips are fluid, and he has quick feet with clean footwork. Dingle is able to turn and run in coverage, he has a quick trigger, but heās also struggled to work backwards in coverage. He bites on play action, double moves, and simply most moves in coverage which cause for some issues. He can struggle to be physical in coverage, and despite his athleticism thereās a lack of athletic hip flexibility in coverage leaving him open. Dingle is a ball of energy, athleticism, and power, but heās got a good bit to work on. Heās a 1-2 down linebacker, the coverage is developing, but heās a moldable player to develop.
#Chiefs have had Jack Dingle, LB from Cincinnati for a 30 visit.
The 6'4 235lb middle linebacker is considered an "Athletic freak" and could be the Leo Chenal replacement. pic.twitter.com/VhkdB8ZaKB
Dugger is a safety whoās converted down to linebacker and he plays super similar to former Raider Divine Deablo. Dugger has exceptional length, good initial quickness, long speed, and he shows an ability to engage and drive blockers. Heās able to close passing lanes well, has a natural feel for the position in coverage, and he isnāt afraid of working backwards. Dugger has natural fluid hips, his footwork is clean, and he works his entire body in unison. Heās new to the position, which does show in the run game, where heāll over pursue, isnāt consistent using dips, and he seems to avoid contact at times as well. Dugger doesnāt understand run fits, he can overpursue, and heāll abandon a cutback lane consistently. Heās faked by playaction and QBās can easily misdirect him as well. Heāll need to clean up as a tackler, being an ankle biter, and heās afraid to get his nose dirty at times. Dugger likely plays a big nickel in the NFL, but he needs to get better working downhill to be an everydown player.
Jaden Dugger, Louisiana #3
Far from a polished prospect, but there's definitely some traits to be intrigued by. pic.twitter.com/A6tdhFi85s
ā eric smith (@OLCoachSmith63) March 20, 2026
**Erick Hunter, Morgan State (Consensus: Mid 6th to Late 7th)**
HT: 6ā2 | WT: 235 | Games: 45
Career: 301 tackles, 35 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 3 INT, 12 PBU, 7 FF, 48 pressures, 12% missed tackle rate | 71% reception rate (78/109), 826 yards, TD, 84.9 QBR allowed
Testing: N/A
Hunter missed all but 2 games in 2024 with a knee injury, but he rebounded well in 2025 with a career best mark in tackles (110), TFL (15), sacks (5), and INT (2). Hunter plays bigger than he is, heās able to engage and disengage from defenders, heās a very consistent player, and he tackles well. Hunter has quick, natural, loose hips which give him an ability to turn and run, and heāll also utilize his first step quickness and explosiveness to drive downhill, collapse passing lanes, and undercut routes. Hunter shows a natural understanding of coverage, heās able to turn and run, he can carry TE/RB, works in man coverage, and overall has a knack for the ball as well. Hunter shows good physicality in his hands, heās able to be violent and active at the point of attack, heās sliced through contact well. Hunter needs to add strength to his lower half, where heās moved around and can be washed out. Additionally, he will need to be more physical in coverage, it shows but he needs to move receivers and tight ends, and heāll also need to do the same in run defense where he can be patient to engage. Hunter doesnāt have functional play strength, heāll need to add upper body strength to better wrap up, and he can show some issues vs play action. Hunter projects as a good linebacker in the NFL, he has fluid movements, high instincts, and thereās a range for him to grow as well.
**Scooby Williams, Texas A&M (Consensus: Late 7th)**
HT: 6ā2 | WT: 231 | Games: 43
Career: 132 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 INT, 4 PBU, 3 FF, 31 pressures, 20% missed tackle rate | 70% reception rate (42/60), 439 yards, 4 TD, 99.2 QBR allowed
Testing: N/A
Williams shows good range, instincts, and heās functional in coverage with a good ability to collapse passing windows. He needs to get more physical in coverage, where heās moved around too often, and his lack off mass also shows consistently. Williams is well built, but tight ends can move him in situations you wish they didnāt, he also lacks length which can cause issues. Williams has fluid lower half technique, but he lacks the lower body strength to pair with it. Iād like to see him do more to avoid contact at the POA in the run game where too often heāll try and anchor and get washed out. Williams is an ankle biter, he doesnāt use his frame in the tackle, and he also gets moved off by bigger physical receivers or runningbacks. Williams can over pursue a cut back lane, abandon his gap, and bites on play action far too often to be on an NFL field consistently. Williams works well downhill, but in coveage he can be too passive, where heās too agressive moving forwards. The traits show, but Williams lack a lot of refinement heāll need at the NFL level.
**Other Names to Know:**
Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (OH) -> Limited production, good athlete, showed potential to be a depth LB in the NFL. Needs to refine his run defense angles, and understanding of passing concepts.
Shad Banks, UTSA -> Productive at TCU & UTSA. 208 tackles, 22 TFL, 4 INT (2 TD), and 4 FF in career
Obiazor is a converted safety to linebacker, and it shows, he has exceptional movement skills, understanding passing lanes, and heāll collapse on the ball quickly to make a play in the backfield. Obiazor works really well coming downhill, but he lacks physicality, and he needs to adjust to the LB position. He has an average first step, but quick second step, his tackling form is fluid but heāll need to utilize his full body as well. When working in the box it was bad, he was washed out in the run game, and thereās a clear lack of funcitonal strength. Obiazor lacks length, which prevents his ability to engage, and heāll also need to get more physical at the point of attack when working backwards instead of coming forward. Obiazor has the traits, but heās a true UDFA that you mold into the position.
**Eric Gentry, USC (Consensus: Mid 7th to UDFA)**
HT: 6ā6 | WT: 221 | Games: 52
Career: 271 tackles, 27 TFL, 9 sacks, 2 INT, 13 PBU, 9 FF, 45 pressures, 14% missed tackle rate | 76% reception rate (76/100), 677 yards, 4 TD, 98.6 QBR allowed
Testing: 4.59 40 (1.63 10-split), 35.5 Vert, 10ā04 Broad, 4.41 Shuttle, 6.76 3-Cone, 13 reps | 7.74 RAS
I donāt like Eric Gentry, he does hold rare size and length for the position but thatās about it, heās not accustomed to linebacker. Gentry should likely consider a transition to safety in the NFL, where heāll be able to avoid getting flushed out in the run game due to his severe lack of strength and anchor ability. Gentry shows a good ability to collapse and come downhill, and his length allows him to work in short yardage and collapse passing lanes. Heās a capable blitzer, with good twitch, but the lack of strength and hand combat skills limit him when heās engaged with runningbacks or defenders. Gentry has good hip flexibility, and his footwork is fluid, he does show a good ability to turn and run in coverage, with flashes of being a strong pass rusher off the EDGE. He needs more mass but his frame is linear which canāt hold much, if any. Additionally, Gentry really struggles to play physical at the catch point, where heās boxed out despite his size largely due to the lack of mass. He is an ankle biter, struggles to bring down defenders with his full body, and overall Gentry doesnāt look comfortable working at the second level. A team will likely draft him late day three and try to mold him into a player due to the length, heās a nickel defender in the NFL, and if he can sit and react on concepts thereās a route heāll carve a solid NFL career.
Sorey is fine, thatās really all I have to say about him. Heās undersized and lacks length but overall does a good bit well, and doesnāt struggle with much. Thereās not much to wow you, and he needs to clean up the tackling form, angles, and hip drop tackles, but Sorey shows some good movement skills, instincts against the run, and heāll play violent. Thereās a limited ceiling, but he can produce on special teams and in early down run fits.
**Logan Kopp, North Dakota State (Consensus: UDFA)**
HT: 6ā2 | WT: 238 | Games: 58
Career: 276 tackles, 28 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 8 INT, 22 PBU, 3 FF, 48 pressures, 16% missed tackle rate | 68% reception rate (92/136), 809 yards, TD, 61.2 QBR allowed
Testing: N/A
Kopp hasnāt gotten much look this draft cycle, but he deserves some. Heās an effective linebacker, he has physical traits, and heās a physical player. Kopp works well coming downhill, he has a good first step, strong initial trigger, and overall Kopp shows an ability to work through contact into the backfield. His hands are active and violent, he keeps his legs engaged, and he has an ability to anchor which prevents him from being flushed out. Kopp doesnāt have great hip and ankle flexibility, and heāll struggle to turn and run in long concepts due to pretty poor long speed, but his initial burst and understanding of passing lanes is special. Kopp generates turnovers, he generates himself near the ball, and heāll capitalize. Heās a good tackler, using his trigger to come downhill, and heās not afraid of contact either but heāll also take some poor angles in the open field which need to be flushed out. Heās a smart instinctual defender in coverage, and itās where he makes his mark. Kopp shows the traits to be a good late day three or UDFA linebacker, and I wonāt be shocked if he finds his way onto an NFL field.
North Dakota State LB Logan Kopp (@kopp\_logan) has been one of the best FCS linebackers for years now.
2025 was no different ā Kopp was named First Team All-MVFC, Second Team All-American by Stats Perform, and a Buck Buchanan Award finalist.
Caden Fordham, NC State -> NC State has a history of linebacker development, Fordham likely follows that and should be an intriguing UDFA. 252 tackles, 18 TFL, 5 sacks, 8 PBU in 48 games.
Declan Williams, Incarnate Word -> Physical, big body LB, lacks twitch, very average in coverage. Works best coming downhill vs the run. 170 tackles, 25 TFL, 8 sacks, and 9 PBU in career
Reid Carrico, West Virginia -> Ohio State transfer to WVU, 128 tackles, 10 TFL, 5 sacks in last two seasons. Solid athlete, limited in experience, needs more time against the run.
Karson Sharar, Iowa -> Limited PT, lacks athleticism, very average player. Will be productive on ST
Drue Watts, Memphis -> 260 tackles, 31 TFL, 10 sacks, 2 INT, 9 PBU in career between Memphis & Nevada, shows good athleticism, can be productive working sideline to sideline. Small player, lacks thump.
Jordan Kwiatkowski, Central Michigan -> 255 tackles, 29 TFL, 4 INT, 11 PBU in career. No relation to Nick, very functional linebacker, average athlete. Struggles in coverage, run first, can make NFL roster.
Wesley Bissainthe, Miami (FL)
Wade Woodaz, Clemson -> Former 5\*, hasnāt developed to the extent expected. Four years of consistent playtime, average athlete, decent working in space. Limited ceiling.
Luke Banbury, William & Mary -> High instincts, smart LB, very average athlete but wins with his intelligence. 140 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 sacks, 11 PBU in one season at William and Mary.
John Miller, Utah State -> ST linebacker, decent run defense, plays really twitched up, moves well in space. Going to be a very functional LB in the NFL on special teams. 192 tackles, 17 TFL, 11 sacks in career including 118 tackles, 11 TFL, and 9 sacks in 2025.
