With a 2-6 record after eight weeks, not much has gone according to plan for the Las Vegas Raiders this season. That hasn’t stopped Robert Spillane from having a special 2024 campaign, however. Entering Week 9, the seventh-year linebacker has returned to the top of the rankings via solo tackles by any defender at any position in the National Football League.
Six weeks into the ’24 season, Spillane led all players league-wide in solo tackles with a mark of 48. That would change the following week as Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt jumped ahead of Spillane with a five-tackle advantage.
But following the conclusion of Week 8, the Raiders middle linebacker sits tied with Pratt for most solo tackles across the NFL with 61.
While Spillane and Pratt share the top-spot on the solo tackles list, Spillane’s 18 assisted tackles stands superior to Pratt’s 14. In addition, Las Vegas’ 28-year-old has missed two less tackles (6) than the Cincinnati linebacker (8).
After eight weeks, Spillane is the king of tackling this season.
But talking isn’t all the Western Michigan alum has excelled at. Among all linebackers in the NFL to play any amount of snaps this year, Spillane is 1-of-8 to record at least one interception and one sack. Although it didn’t count as an interception for himself, Spillane deflected a pass into Nate Hobbs’ hands against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7 that gave the Raiders an instant red zone possession.
What Spillane has been able to accomplish since coming to Sin City in 2023 is truly remarkable. Despite being labeled a liability in coverage, the second-year Raider has totaled four interceptions over his last 25 outings.
Retaining Spillane must be a top priority this summer.
Robert Spillane must be priority number one this offseason for Las Vegas Raiders
There’s no shortage of upcoming free agents for the Raiders this summer. In fact, aside from Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, Jakorian Bennett and Jack Jones, each and every starter on defense is scheduled to be a free agent at the conclusion of the ’24 season.
Bringing back Robert Spillane needs to be step one before moving to whatever step two is.
Spillane signed a two-year, $7 million contract during the ’23 offseason following the departure of Denzel Perryman. Although filling the shoes of ’21 Pro Bowler Perryman felt largely unrealistic, Spillane wasted no time ensuring linebacker play remained a strength for Sin City.
With Spillane’s presence in the middle of the field, the Raiders allowed the ninth-least points (331) last year. With Perryman, Las Vegas hadn’t ranked higher than 26th-least in two seasons.
Las Vegas has a 2-6 record up to this point, but it isn’t for lack of talent on the roster. Keeping Spillane in town helps ensure success in the near future.
