The Las Vegas Raiders entered Monday with the NFL’s most salary cap space and a glaring need at linebacker. By the end of the day, they had filled that void with two familiar faces.
Former Georgia teammates Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean agreed to three-year contracts with the Raiders, a source confirmed. Walker, a first-round pick by Green Bay in 2022, will earn $40.5 million with $28 million guaranteed. Dean, a third-round pick by Philadelphia in the same draft, will receive $36 million with $20 million guaranteed.
The signings cannot become official until the new league year begins Wednesday.
Walker and Dean reunite in Las Vegas after playing together at Georgia from 2019-2021, where they helped the Bulldogs win a national championship. The Raiders are transitioning to a 3-4 base defense under new coordinator Rob Leonard, making linebacker a top priority.
Las Vegas had nearly $120 million in cap space entering free agency and has been one of the most aggressive teams on the opening day, adding potential starters on both sides of the ball.
