Raiders: 3 storylines to watch during 2022 mandatory minicamp

Raiders: 3 storylines to watch during the 2022 mandatory minicamp

The Linebacker Corp

Heading into 2021, it looked like the Raiders would run it back with Nicholas Morrow, Cory Littleton, and Nick Kwiatkowski. However, Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley clearly wasn’t a fan of Kwiatkowski and he was quickly replaced by K.J. Wright. When Nicholas Morrow went down with a season-ending injury, Bradley called up old friend Denzel Perryman, who turned in a pro bowl season and was the Raiders’ best linebacker in over a decade.

Later in the season, Littleton was benched for rookie Divine Deablo who proved to be a capable option. Fast forward to 2022, that original starting group is gone and so is Wright.

Perryman is entrenched as the starting middle linebacker this season after an exceptional 2021. Divine Deablo is likely in a battle for his starting spot with free-agent additions Jayon Brown, Kenny Young, and Micah Kiser. The Raiders will have two linebackers on the field for the most part and Deablo is the option with the highest ceiling.

He flashed exceptional athleticism, instincts, and coverage ability in his extended action late last season, but missed much of the early season and 2021 offseason with injuries. Deablo was once again hurt during OTAs since he wore a red non-contact jersey.

Brown is likely Deablo’s main competition due to his experience as a starter for nearly 5 seasons in Tennessee. The loser of the battle will likely join the group in 4-3 sets, which will be increasingly rare under new Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham. Ultimately, the Raiders decided to go much cheaper in the linebacking corps this season with Perryman, Deablo, Brown, Kiser, and Young all making less than $10 million combined and the Raiders will let these young guys battle it out.