Seventh round leads to underrated linebacker for Raiders

With their seventh-round selection, the Las Vegas Raiders have chosen to go with an underrated defensive piece.

With the 222nd pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders selected Minnesota linebacker Cody Lindenberg.

Linebacker was a position of need for the Raiders, with last year’s starting duo in Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo departing in free agency. Adding Elandon Roberts and Devin White certainly helps, but the Raiders could always use more depth down the middle. The seventh round may not have been an ideal place to do it, but Lindenberg has the tools needed to perform higher than his draft spot indicates.

What Lindenberg brings to the Raiders

While not expected to start right away, Lindenberg can still be a positive contributor for the Raiders in his rookie year.

Strong tackling skills and good understanding of zone coverage gives Lindenberg some versatility in terms of deployment. He also offers good size and speed, giving him a strong foundation to serve as a blitzer and pass-rusher. The expectation will be that Lindenberg receives most of his playing time on special teams in his rookie year, with the potential for more playing time down the line.

Barring a sudden trade back in, Lindenberg will round out the 2025 Draft class for the Raiders.