Did the Raiders just fix one of their biggest weaknesses on defense?

Las Vegas made a major investment in free agency, spending $76.5 million to bring in linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker to completely reshape the middle of their defense.

So the big question is…

Will it actually work?

In this episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick brings in Ross Tucker (Ross Tucker Football Podcast / Former NFL Player/NFL Analyst of Eagles) and Mike Heller (Packers reporter) to deliver a true deep dive into both players — beyond the box score.

This is not surface-level analysis.

We break down what these guys have actually put on tape and what Raider Nation should expect in 2026.

🧠 What we cover:

• Why the Raiders targeted Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker

• What each player does best — and where they still need to improve

• How they fit into Rob Leonard’s defensive system

• How their skillsets complement each other

• What this means for the rest of the Raiders defense

👇 QUESTION FOR RAIDER NATION

Who are you more excited to see in Silver & Black:

Nakobe Dean or Quay Walker?

Drop your answer in the comments.

CHAPTERS

00:00 DID THE RAIDERS FIX THEIR LB CORE?

02:17 NAKOBE DEAN BREAKDOWN W/ ROSS TUCKER

19:50 QUAY WALKER BREAKDOWN W/ MIKE HELLER

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