Raiders 2018 NFL Draft: 5 ILBs to target in the first two rounds

An absolute freak of an athlete, Leighton Vander Esch was the talk of the NFL Scouting Combine this past weekend. The native of Wyoming is a towering middle linebacker, who should have an incredible impact at the next level in his rookie season.

Vander Esch is the kind of linebacker who can play every down, which is needed in Guenther’s system. He is also an incredibly smart player, who has a nose for the ball that is hard to match in this year’s draft class.

Last season, Vander Esch racked up 141 tackles for the Boise State Broncos, which earned him Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. He decided to forgo his senior season after a monster junior year, where he added four sacks and two interceptions to those 141 tackles.

At 6-foot-4, 256 pounds, Vander Esch is a big boy, and he is one of the strongest prospects coming out. He is also very quick on his feet, running to a 4.65 40-yard dash during the Combine.

The bottom line is, Vander Esch is going to fit on any roster, but he could flourish with the Raiders. One of the hardest hitters in college football last season, he plays with a fiery demeanor, and would be a fan favorite of Raider Nation if he puts on the Silver and Black.