Raiders: 3 defensive players who have been crucial down the stretch

Raiders: 3 defensive players who have been crucial down the stretch

Divine Deablo – Linebacker

Divine Deablo took some time to get acclimated to the NFL but since being forced into regular defensive duty in Week 13, he has been one of the best players on the field for the Raiders. He has recorded 35 tackles in the last 5 weeks including a tackle for loss and a pass defended.

The young linebacker has been instrumental in the defense’s turnaround recently, especially against the run thanks to the speed and physicality he brings to the position. He has been used as a blitzer sparingly but has done the most damage in space against ball carriers.

This is the player that the Raiders thought they were drafting in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft and his stock has been steadily rising every week.

He will have a tough test this weekend against a very good Chargers offense but he has proven that he belongs on the field for every defensive snap thanks to his athleticism and versatility. Deablo is a foundational piece for this defense moving forward and the sky’s the limit for this youngster.