The Las Vegas Raiders made one of the biggest bargains in the 2023 free agency period when they signed linebacker Robert Spillane to a two-year, $7 million contract.
With a bargain contract, Spillane gave the Raiders more than just a bargain. He had the best season of his career, totaling 148 tackles, seven for loss, four quarterback hits, three interceptions, a forced fumble and three and a half sacks.
Coach Antonio Pierce will probably be comfortable with Spillane taking the lead and wearing the green dot in silver and black.
Spillane has one year left on his contract, and if he plays at a similar level to last season, he could receive a generous contract extension from the team.
So how can Spillane build on his 2023 season and improve?
It starts with improving the coverage. Spillane is undersized and lacks the athleticism for the position, but he’s doing solid.
According to Pro Football Focus, Spillane ranks 53rd among all linebackers with a coverage grade of 59.0. His contemporary Divine Deablo ranks 45th.
If Spillane can get that number up to a league average level, he would become one of the best linebackers in the league and bring the rest of the defense to a higher level as well.
In 2023, Spillane was a tackling machine. If there was a play to be made with the football, Spillane made it.
There needs to be more of that in 2023. The Raiders’ run defense struggled throughout the preseason, even when the regulars played many important snaps.
That falls to Spillane, who has a chance He wants to be captain in 2024. Last season he was one of the engines of the defense and has proven that he should be again.
That’s why the Raiders will turn to Spillane to guide the defense in the right direction when things aren’t going well.
Spillane is one of the Raiders’ most important players. He came in with low expectations last season and delivered a borderline Pro Bowl game for a team that needed a defensive spark.
Spillane still has room to grow in his second season with the Raiders, and if he can do that, the entire team will benefit.
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