Nakobe Dean: Everything you need to know

Dean and the Raiders agreed to a three-year, $36 million contract Monday that includes $20 million guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Dean spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Eagles, who selected the Georgia product in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Dean's most productive season in Philadelphia was in 2024, when he logged 128 total tackles across 15 regular-season games, though he tore the patellar tendon in his left knee during the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX run that caused him to open the 2025 season on injured reserve. Dean appeared in just 10 regular-season games last year, finishing with 55 tackles (30 solo), including a career-high 4.0 sacks, one pass defense and two forced fumbles. With Devin White and Jamal Adams both unrestricted free agents, Dean is slated to start at linebacker alongside Quay Walker in 2026.

Dean tallied 55 tackles (including 4.0 sacks), one defensed pass and two forced fumbles over 10 regular-season games (eight starts) during the 2025 campaign. Dean missed the first five games of the season while recovering from a knee injury and then sat out Weeks 17 and 18 because of a hamstring issue. While that led to his overall tackle total being less than half of what it was (128) in 2024, Dean did manage to reach a career-best mark with his 4.0 sacks. He just completed the final year of his rookie deal, so Dean is slated to be a free agent.

Dean (hamstring) practiced in full Thursday. Dean missed two straight games to close out the regular season, but the starting linebacker appears back to full health and ready to return to action for Sunday's wild-card round matchup against the 49ers. Across 10 regular-season appearances in 2025, Dean tallied 55 tackles (30 solo), including a career-high 4.0 sacks, plus one pass defensed and two forced fumbles.