Raiders defense: Will Robert Spillane be the heartbeat of the unit in 2025 and beyond

Will the Silver & Black lose a “heart beat” type player in back-to-back offseasons?

That’s a scenario the Las Vegas Raiders are staring down with middle linebacker Robert Spillane slated to hit unrestricted free agency. Since joining the Raiders as a free agent addition during the offseason in 2023 after five seasons in the league, the 6-foot-1 and 229-pound Western Michigan product took command of the middle linebacker roll and is the heart beat to defensive end Maxx Crosby’s unlimited stamina.

Spillane currently has 142 total tackles (85 solo) in 16 games which puts him at sixth overall amongst all defenders in the NFL. Add to that two sacks, two interceptions, seven pass deflections, 10 tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits, and it’s easy to see the term heart beat used. Las Vegas Raiders head coach used similar terminology when describing running back Josh Jacobs before he hit unrestricted free agency and the tailback joined the Green Bay Packers on a rich deal (four-year, $48 million contract with $12.5 million guaranteed at signing).

In his initial season in Silver & Black, Spillane racked up 148 total tackles (82 solo), with 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, four pass deflections, one forced fumble (one recovery), seven tackles for loss and four quarterback hits. He’s a savvy run defender who can also cover and rush the passer when asked. And that’s not easy to find.

Absent a new contract, the 29-year-old is slated to see the free agency waters. And he’s likely going to see a substantial raise from the two-year, $7 million deal he inked with Las Vegas after the 2022 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Spillane has gone from spot starter to bona fide man in the middle that can anchor a defensive unit.

Raiders general manager Tom Telesco is set to have plenty of coin to work with this coming offseason. OverTheCap (OTC) projects the team to have about $108 million in cap pace — only behind the New England Patriots’ total of $132 million. Thus re-upping Spillane to continue being a valuable leader in the middle of Las Vegas’ defense may be on the horizon.

Yet, Spillane is among 15 Raiders who are on expiring deals and slated to be unrestricted free agents — safety Tre’von Moehrig is a homegrown talent in this category, as is fellow starting linebacker Divine Deablo, for example. Thus it’ll be interesting how Telesco (if he returns as GM) operates with cap space and building a roster in 2025 and beyond.

OTC, for example, has a valuation of $9.471 million for Spillane. An average salary per year of that sum would put him in the top eight in the position group. The Baltimore Ravens’ holds the highest sum for inside linebackers at $20 million per year average with the San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner next at $19.045 million. The Chicago Bears’ Tremaine Edmunds is third at $18 million and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Patrick Queen follows at $13.666-plus million.

While Spillane is unlikely to approach those gaudy numbers, he’ll earn much more than what he’s made thus far: Career earnings of $12.318-plus million with a career average per year of $2.053-plus million.

Using last offseason as a barometer, Spillane may see a deal similar to what Josey Jewell got with the Carolina Panthers — three-year, $18.75 million (average of $6.25 million per year) and $10.125 million guaranteed at signing. Or what Demario Davis and C.J. Mosely got, respectively — two-year, $17.25 million (average of $8.625 million) and $11.5 and $13.25 million guaranteed at signing, respectively.

Jewell was 29 when he inked his deal with Carolina while Davis was 35 and Mosely 31 when they signed their contracts.

Spillane, who won’t turn 30 until next December 14, isn’t showing signs of slowing down and is getter better with age, but a short-term two- to three-year deal may be on the horizon — with Las Vegas or another squad.

The Raiders do have youngsters Tommy Eichenberg and Amari Burney listed behind Spillane on the official team depth chart at middle linebacker, but the 23-year-old and 24-year-old are unproven on defense and are more special teams mainstays in their respective careers. Las Vegas could chart a new course with the young linebackers, draft another one, or find another gem of a free agent signing this coming March if it deems Spillane too expensive.

The team does have plenty of needs, but Spillane proved to be a Raider revelation when the Steelers allowed him to walk. With how talent deprived the Silver & Black have been, can they afford to let Spillane walk away from the desert, too?