The Raiders were highly aggressive in the free-agent market last season, adding Jimmy Garoppolo and Jakobi Meyers early in the process. The addition of Meyers worked out, but not Garoppolo. Such is life in free agency.
But under-the-radar signing that deserves more praise was the addition of Robert Spillane. A former special teams player in Pittsburgh, Spillane became an anchor in the middle of the defense for Las Vegas. He was their leading tackler and one of the best playmakers.
Could the Raiders be in the market for another free-agent linebacker this offseason after the success of Spillane? One name to keep an eye on next month is Tyrel Dodson of the Buffalo Bills. Here is why Pro Football Focus believes he could wind up being a steal for the right team:
Dodson carries some risk as a linebacker with only 1,066 career snaps, and one who was not a starter for the Bills until Matt Milano got injured in Week 5 of the 2023 season. However, what he did with the opportunity and how he played once he became a starter makes him one of the more intriguing free agents this year.
Dodson ended up as PFF’s highest-graded linebacker in 2023 (90.2). He was the only linebacker in the NFL to earn a grade above 83.0 both for his work in run defense and coverage.
It’s worth mentioning that the Raiders still have Divine Deablo under contract, but he has been unable to stay on the field for the majority of his career and is set to become a free agent in the 2025 offseason.
But Dodson could be a perfect fit in Antonio Pierce’s defense and would make for a fantastic pairing with Robert Spillane. If the Raiders are willing to spend a little bit to strengthen the spine of their defense, Dodson could be a wonderful addition.