You can bet the Raiders are watching the linebackers intently. Not only to they have a major need at middle linebacker, but they are a staff full of former NFL linebackers including GM Reggie McKenzie, head coach Jack Del Rio, and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.
They value all-around athletic abilities in their middle linebackers so they can keep them on the field for 3 downs without worries about having offenses key on their shortcomings.
The most athletic among the linebackers is one Jabrill Peppers out of Michigan. Enough so that the 5-11, 213-pounder will be working at safety as well. He ran an impressive 4.47 40-yard-dash. While it's not as impressive at late former Raiders linebacker, Thomas Howard's 4.42, it's still special. And it's more than a tenth of a second faster than any other linebacker at this combine.
After running his 40, Peppers showed off more of his athletic prowess, with a celebratory back flip.
How ya feelin' @JabrillPeppers? #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/c2hIoDyVE4
— NFL (@NFL) March 5, 2017
40-yard dash
| Player | School | 40-yd-dash |
| Peppers, Jabrill | Michigan | 4.47 |
| Riley, Duke | Louisiana St | 4.58 |
| McMillan, Raekwon | Ohio St | 4.61 |
| Anzalone, Alex | Florida | 4.63 |
| Bowser, Tyus | Houston | 4.65 |
| Brown, Blair | Ohio | 4.65 |
| Walker, Anthony | Northwestern | 4.65 |
| Biegel, Vince | Wisconsin | 4.67 |
| Cunningham, Zach | Vanderbilt | 4.67 |
| Milano, Matt | Boston College | 4.67 |
| Vallejo, Tanner | Boise St | 4.67 |
Bench press
| Player | School | Bench |
| Gedeon, Ben | Michigan | 27 |
| Lee, Marquel | Wake Forest | 25 |
| Milano, Matt | Boston College | 24 |
| Mathis, Jojo | Washington | 24 |
| McMillan, Raekwon | Ohio St | 23 |
| Walker, Anthony | Northwestern | 23 |
| Kelsey, Keith | Louisville | 23 |
| Bowser, Tyus | Houston | 21 |
| Biegel, Vince | Wisconsin | 21 |
| Watt, TJ | Wisconsin | 21 |
Vertical jump
| Player | School | Vertical |
| Bowser, Tyus | Houston | 37.5 |
| Watt, TJ | Wisconsin | 37.0 |
| Brown, Blair | Ohio | 37.0 |
| Peppers, Jabrill | Michigan | 35.5 |
| Milano, Matt | Boston College | 35.0 |
| Cunningham, Zach | Vanderbilt | 35.0 |
| Gedeon, Ben | Michigan | 34.5 |
| Riley, Duke | Louisiana St | 34.5 |
| Fields, Devonte' | Louisville | 34.0 |
| Biegel, Vince | Wisconsin | 33.5 |
| Vallejo, Tanner | Boise St | 33.5 |
Broad jump
| Player | School | Broad |
| Watt, TJ | Wisconsin | 128 |
| Peppers, Jabrill | Michigan | 128 |
| Bowser, Tyus | Houston | 127 |
| Milano, Matt | Boston College | 126 |
| Cunningham, Zach | Vanderbilt | 125 |
| Brown, Blair | Ohio | 124 |
| Fields, Devonte' | Louisville | 124 |
| Riley, Duke | Louisiana St | 122 |
| Vallejo, Tanner | Boise St | 121 |
| McMillan, Raekwon | Ohio St | 121 |
3-cone drill
| Player | School | 3-cone |
| Bowser, Tyus | Houston | 6.75 |
| Watt, TJ | Wisconsin | 6.79 |
| Ellis, Brooks | Arkansas | 6.80 |
| Anzalone, Alex | Florida | 6.88 |
| Riley, Duke | Louisiana St | 6.89 |
| Brown, Blair | Ohio | 6.92 |
| Biegel, Vince | Wisconsin | 6.92 |
| Gedeon, Ben | Michigan | 6.98 |
| Boulware, Ben | Clemson | 7.02 |
| Cunningham, Zach | Vanderbilt | 7.03 |
Short shuttle
| Player | School | Short shuttle |
| Watt, TJ | Wisconsin | 4.13 |
| Gedeon, Ben | Michigan | 4.13 |
| Brown, Blair | Ohio | 4.18 |
| Riley, Duke | Louisiana St | 4.21 |
| Ellis, Brooks | Arkansas | 4.25 |
| Anzalone, Alex | Florida | 4.25 |
| Cunningham, Zach | Vanderbilt | 4.29 |
60-yard shuttle
| Player | School | 60-yd shuttle |
| Watt, TJ | Wisconsin | 11.20 |
| Ellis, Brooks | Arkansas | 11.28 |
| Gedeon, Ben | Michigan | 11.58 |
| Anzalone, Alex | Florida | 11.71 |
| Harris, Connor | Lindenwood | 11.84 |
| McMillan, Raekwon | Ohio St | 11.84 |
| Davis, Kevin | Colorado St | 11.91 |
| Boulware, Ben | Clemson | 12.13 |
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