Why Raiders' Pete Carroll is liking his new-look LBs

After losing LBs Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo in NFL free agency, the Las Vegas Raiders were suddenly thin at the position.

Raiders GM John Spytek wasn't busy in free agency as other top-tier linebackers were being picked up by other teams, including the AFC West rival Denver Broncos signing Dre Greenlaw.

Spytek did pick up free-agent LBs starting with Elandon Roberts, followed by Devin White, Jaylon Smith, Michael Barrett, Germaine Pratt and Jamal Adams.

During Tuesday's training-camp practice, The Athletic's Tashan Reed noted White had an interception off QB Geno Smith. During the news conference, a reporter asked HC Pete Carroll about his confidence in the LBs.

"We have totally changed this position group from what you've seen in the past," Carroll said. These guys bring background, experience and toughness, and a hard-nosed attitude-physicality to them. It's pretty exciting to see the effect they're having on the younger guys and kind of shifting their intensity. It's going to be a really competitive group throughout, and we can play six guys right now."

Minus Barrett, the other five LBs have a combined 2,932 tackles, 73.5 sacks, 31 forced fumbles, 25 fumble recoveries and 17 interceptions. Stats-wise, those are impressive numbers to have those caliber players on the roster. But the key question will linger on during training camp and the regular season. Can they stay healthy, especially White and Adams, who have been hit hard with injuries before? Since 2022, Adams has not played more than 10 games, and White played through injuries in 2023 and played seven games last season.

The Raiders need those two to stay healthy to give the LBs any chance of being a force on the field and flip the script after a 4-13 season in 2024. The Raiders LBs need to slow down Kansas City star TE Travis Kelce and other TEs to give them any chance of coming out on top.

But it is the health of the LBs that will continue to be a lingering question moving forward. If the Raiders can get quality production from that group this season, 2025 could be surprising for Vegas.