It’s been a miserable season for the Raiders, but according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, veteran linebacker Devin White has been one of the few bright spots to a 2-12 season that has become a little more embarrassing every week.
Rapoport pointed to White’s 149 tackles this season as a cause for celebration, but it was a message that was not well received by a fan base that has watched the veteran linebacker on the field each Sunday.
What does not show up in the box score each week is that White has been a massive liability in coverage and has given up the most receptions (65) of any Raider defender on the season (Pro Football Focus).
For the sake of reference, Kyu Blu Kelly is no. 2 on the team in receptions given up with 34.
As for his tackling numbers, the criticism around White has been that he rarely makes impact plays. Additionally, his tackling numbers have been inflated by a Raiders’ defense that hasn’t been able to get off the field this year.
Only two linebackers in the league have played more defensive snaps in 2025 than White.
Because of the Raiders’ conservative defensive scheme, White has taken on a different role than he has in the past, but he has still looked slow and opposing defenses have been targeting him in coverage.
On the season, White (43.2) and Elandon Roberts (42.5) have two of the league’s worst PFF coverage grades, and it’s fair to wonder if some of that might be a product of the scheme Pete Carroll brought to the team.
But even if the coaches share some blame, it’s hard to imagine White is going to get a contract in the offseason that reflects anything close to the excitement Rapoport offered in his Tuesday post.
Remember, it was White who Maxx Crosby chewed out on the sideline during Sunday’s game in Philadelphia and after re-watching the play, it’s amusing that White would get a hype tweet from one of the NFL’s most respected insiders just two days later.
x: @raidersbeat
I said on here he was awful when we signed him.
Crosby has no room to talk. He’s given up the edge freelancing far more times than White has this season.
Yeah, he’s so awful door knob that he’s like third in the league and tackles.
He was so awful he couldn’t play a snap for the Eagles last season and wound up cut in the middle of the season. He can’t cover to save his life.
You really have attention deficit disorder amongst other issues.
We don’t have a single linebacker on our roster that can cover. Even a converted safety like Adam’s can’t cover. Chinn can’t cover.
Refocus your attention on tackles. THATS my point. Spillane couldn’t cover either. He was only effective in zone coverage.
You’re a moron. Saying we don’t have a LB that can cover doesn’t excuse the fact that White is awful. You focusing on tackles and nothing else is laughable. On a good team, he wouldn’t see the field.
Focusing on tackles and disregarding the multiple.negative aspects of his play is equivalent to burying your head in the sand.
Focus on overall play, which he’s been absolutely awful.
You have no doubt heard that word moron since you were very young.
Only when I heard people referencing you.