The Raiders’ decision to trade Jakorian Bennett for Thomas Booker IV was a move that already seems to be paying off for the Eagles, but according to Raider Nation Radio host Q Myers, Booker has some upside that could fill a big need at defensive tackle in Las Vegas.
“I’m still very intrigued by Thomas Booker IV,” Myers said on the Locked on Raiders Squad Show podcast on Thursday.
“I know a lot of people didn’t know who he was, including myself, when the Raiders made that trade for him. But after doing some research, talking to some people that are around the Eagles organization, and then seeing what Thomas Booker has been able to do in a short sample size, I think that he’s going to be a nice rotation piece for this Raiders defensive line.”
Booker was a fifth-round pick by the Houston Texans in 2022 and played only 166 defensive snaps for the Eagles a year ago. With so much depth on the interior of the Eagles’ defensive line, Booker wasn’t getting many opportunities in Philadelphia and not many more were seemingly on the way.
He didn’t stand out in the preseason, but Booker will have an opportunity in Las Vegas to resurrect his career, and he should have plenty of motivation considering he will be a restricted free agent after the 2025 season.
As Myers and others have pointed out, Booker becomes a little more interesting because the Raiders hired one of the Eagles’ most trusted personnel men in the offseason.
Former Eagles Senior Director of College Scouting Anthony Patch is now the Raiders’ Senior Personnel Executive, and he would have familiarity with Booker from their time together in Philadelphia.
Patch was a part of two Super Bowl teams with the Eagles and worked alongside current Vegas GM John Spytek in Philadelphia from 2005 to 2009.
x: @raidersbeat
Hopefully, he comes thru bc Bennett was our best CB, now we’re seriously lacking talent at that position. Still questioning that trade.