Raiders Cut Loose 25-Year-Old Former Third-Round Pick
There was some expectation that the Las Vegas Raiders could have an eventful bye week, but the team was relatively quiet. The most notable thing they did was sign former Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyler Lockett.
However, they aren’t done tinkering with the roster. Ahead of their Week 9 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Raiders decided to part ways with linebacker Brian Asamoah.
Asamoah has been on the practice squad all season and hasn’t been able to get on the field. He first came into the NFL as a third-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, but has never started a game.
He joined the Raiders right before the season, but the team’s linebacker play has been solid, so there hasn’t been a reason to promote him. With linebacker not being a huge need for Las Vegas, it made Asamoah expendable. His status as a former third-round pick should give him a chance to land elsewhere, but it won’t be with the Raiders for now.
Devin White Stepping Up For Raiders
The Raiders’ linebacker room was a bit of a concern heading into the season. The team relied on older veterans over young players.
While the defense hasn’t been great, the linebackers have been solid. Devin White is one player who has stood out. The former top-10 draft pick had a rough couple of years, but he’s finding new life in Las Vegas.
He’s just trying to do what he can to make plays.
“I just try to stay cool, calm and collected,” White said recently, via Raiders.com. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to make the play when it’s presented to you and you can’t dwell on the past. One thing about me, it can be bad and you can get in your own head, or it can be good and you can stay in the moment too long. So I try to just stay out of it and just live for right now.
“If you’re consistent, you’ll be rewarded.”
Tommy Eichenberg Praises White
White has been an outspoken player in the past, which has led to some speculation that he’s a difficult player to work with. However, that hasn’t been the impression he’s leaving on teammates. Second-year linebacker Tommy Eichenberg had a lot of praise for White.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for him,” Eichenberg said. “Love the way he plays. Love the way he leads the room. Overall, just a really good teammate.
“It’s definitely something I’m trying to incorporate into my game. He’s just got a lot of energy and it’s awesome playing next to him. … He never talks about anything he’s ever done. Which is awesome.”
White has been a leader for the Raiders. He’s only on a one-year deal, but he’s making the case that he should be brought back. That said, he still has to continue playing well for the rest of the season. If he finishes strongly, the Raiders will almost certainly want to bring him back on a multi-year contract.
Three Rams Predicted To Make All-Pro Teams
The Los Angeles Rams are holding a 5-2 record after their Week 8 bye, before hosting the New Orleans Saints on November 2nd.
The offense and defense are clicking for the Rams this season. The offense ranks in the top half of the league, while the defense is allowing only 16.7 points per game this season, the third-fewest in the
The Rams have some injuries on offense that are preventing them from playing their best football.
Even with the few knocks on both sides of the ball, Sports Illustrated’s Mett Verderame
Matthew Stafford
GettyMatthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams.
Matt Verderame predicts that Matthew Stafford will be the second-team All-Pro at the quarterback position — he predicts Patrick Mahomes will be the first-team QB.
“Stafford entered his Week 8 bye with 1,866 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. The Rams have one of the league’s most explosive pass-catching duos, with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and Stafford has taken full advantage.” Verderame wrote.
If Stafford were to make the All-Pro team, it would be the first time in his career. The player has been a Pro Bowler twice in his career, in the 2014 and 2023 seasons, but has never been an All-Pro.
Through seven games this season, Stafford has been averaging 266.6 passing yards per game, while having 17 pass touchdowns, tied for the most in the league.
Puka Nacua
Harry How/Getty ImagesWide receiver Puka Nacua
Puka Nacua has been dealing with an ankle injury for the last few weeks, but he could be the best receiver in the league before that.
The former BYU wide receiver logged 500 receiving yards in the first four games of the season, before cooling down the last couple of weeks.
Verderame believes Nacua will make the 2025 All-Pro team on the first team. This will be Puka’s first time in his career.
“Nacua is also an obvious call with 616 yards and two scores despite missing two weeks,” Verdame said of the wide receiver.
Puka is currently on track to play in Week 9 against the Saints, which will bring much-needed value to the team as Tutu Atwell was placed on the injured reserve.
Byron Young
GettyLA Rams EDGE rusher Byron Young
After the first seven weeks of the 2025 NFL season, EDGE rusher Byron Young led the league with nine sacks. The Rams had their bye in Week 8, which allowed other defenders to catch up, but it doesn’t take away how great Young has been playing this season.
“Finally, Young has nine sacks in seven games, creating havoc on a Rams front headlined by Jared Verse, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year,” Verderame said about the pass rusher, while he predicts that Young will make the second-team All-Pro.
While the NFL writer didn’t say much about Young, the Rams defender does all the talking on the field.
The third-year defender has nine sacks before the team’s bye week and will easily get double-digit sacks, the first time since the 2021 season when Aaron Donald was still playing.
Young also has 39 tackles this season for the Rams, which is the fourth most on the team. He also has one forced fumble.
If the Rams defender continues to take down opposing quarterbacks, he could put himself in a position to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.
