Nakobe Dean Signs With Las Vegas Raiders: Three-Year, $36M Deal Ends Eagles Era
Nakobe Dean is heading to Las Vegas. The 25-year-old linebacker agreed to a three-year, $36 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, March 9, ending a four-year run with the Philadelphia Eagles and giving the rebuilding Raiders one of the most electric blitzing linebackers in the NFL — when healthy.
Nakobe Dean Raiders Contract: Three Years, $36 Million Confirmed
The Raiders signed Nakobe Dean to a three-year contract worth $36 million, confirmed Monday afternoon during the legal tampering period.
Dean was drafted by the Eagles out of Georgia in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and spent all four of his NFL seasons in Philadelphia before departing for Las Vegas.
The Raiders are simultaneously signing Dean and former Packers linebacker Quay Walker — a double investment at the position that dramatically reshapes Las Vegas's defense entering the 2026 season.
Why the Eagles Lost Nakobe Dean Despite Wanting Him Back
The Eagles lost three key players on the first day of free agency — Dean to the Raiders, edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Panthers, and wide receiver Jahan Dotson to the Falcons.
The Eagles told Dean's camp to come back if his market did not materialize as expected — but the Raiders' offer clearly exceeded what Philadelphia was prepared to pay. The Eagles had other linebacker options in house, with Zack Baun and 2025 first-round pick Jihaad Campbell both returning.
ESPN had called Dean the most likely current Eagle to leave in free agency, noting that while he is a difference-maker when healthy, his potential $10 million or more per season price tag was likely too costly given Philadelphia's other linebacker options.
Nakobe Dean's Injury History Shaped His Market Value
Dean's injury resume gave teams genuine pause heading into free agency. He suffered a torn pectoral during his draft process, a Lisfranc injury in Week 1 of his second season, a patellar tendon tear in the NFC wild-card round in January 2025, and a late-season hamstring injury in 2025.
Over four NFL seasons, Dean logged only 1,500 defensive snaps and started more than eight games just once — meaning the Raiders are betting heavily on the upside of a player whose health has rarely allowed him to play a full schedule.
Dean did return roughly nine months after his patellar tendon tear and played in 11 of Philadelphia's final 13 games in 2025, including the playoffs — a demonstration of resilience that clearly impressed Las Vegas's front office enough to commit $36 million.
What Nakobe Dean Brings to the Las Vegas Raiders Defense
Dean is considered one of the best blitzing linebackers in the league with a 35.7% pressure rate on pass-rushing snaps. He is also a matchup advantage against running backs as a pass rusher — generating 7.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss over his last two seasons in Philadelphia.
The Raiders also signed former Packers linebacker Quay Walker to a three-year, $40.5 million deal alongside Dean — pairing the two linebackers to form a completely rebuilt middle of their defense under new head coach Pete Carroll.
The Nakobe Dean era in Philadelphia is officially over, and Las Vegas has made a bold, high-upside bet on one of the game's most dynamic linebackers before his first contract even expired.
