The Las Vegas Raiders have spent the majority of the 2023 offseason revamping their offense. They have multiple new starters on that side of the ball, which is certainly a peculiar strategy. In 2022, it wasn’t the offense that set Las Vegas back; it was their defense.
The Raiders were 12th in points scored and 12th in yardage gained in 2022, but ranked 26th in points allowed and 28th in yardage surrendered. With numbers like that, you would think more focus would be given to the defensive side of the ball, but that was not the case.
Las Vegas had a few additions on defense, but the only one that looks like a set-in-stone starter is safety Marcus Epps, who was signed away from the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. When playing in the AFC West and trying to slow down Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Russell Wilson, you need more than that.
The Raiders need to improve what was an anemic pass rush last season, totaling only 27 sacks. They were carved up through the air and that was a big reason why. This is a defense that could use an infusion of talent, youth and speed. All three could be had by acquiring linebacker Devin White from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
White requested a trade from the Buccaneers recently in hopes that it would help facilitate a contract extension. He is projected to break the bank as he could break the record for a contract signed by a linebacker, which Roquan Smith and Tremaine Edmunds set this offseason.
What could a trade between the Raiders and Buccaneers look like? Las Vegas could offer the No. 38, No. 70 and No. 144 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft in exchange for White and the No. 50 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay gets to move up 12 spots in the second round, which is a sizable leap. They add another Day 2 pick in the third round and one of the three fifth-round picks Las Vegas has to offer. While the Buccaneers may hold out for a first-round pick, it is hard to imagine any team ponying up a steeper price than it cost the Baltimore Ravens to acquire Smith from the Chicago Bears.
While White has elite-level athleticism, he isn’t as consistent as Smith. He has had remarkable highs, such as the Super Bowl run in 2021, but also some really low lows; White’s PFF grade of 45.5 from 2022 is an example.
The Raiders would be banking on him being able to produce at a high level. White would be a huge upgrade for the team at linebacker given his athleticism. The current group of linebackers that the Raiders are planning to deploy would be picked apart in pass coverage, something that would spell disaster given their divisional foes.
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