Raiders Today

Raiders NFL Draft Prospect: LB Daiyan Henley, Washington State

The Las Vegas Raiders can add a seasoned prospect in Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Jairo Alvarado

In this story:

The Las Vegas Raiders will be shopping for defensive players during the offseason and will look to add more talent via the 2023 NFL Draft.

Raiders Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham had the opportunity to look closely at a handful of prospects as the head coach of the National Team during the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The Silver and Black will be drafting heavily on the defensive side of the ball and looking to bring in guys who can contribute for years to come.

We will be working alongside SI’s Draft Bible to get you the latest information on any potential linebackers the Raiders may consider drafting.

“We’re going to continue to find players who fit what we look for, and continue to build this team in our vision, and I think we’re going to, at the same time, our goal is to win football games, and our goal for next year is to make an improvement over where we were this year,” Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler said.

Linebacker Daiyan Henley, Washington State Cougars

“A see ball, get ball player who poses an upstanding athletic profile,” Draft Bible said of Henley.

The 6-2, 232-pound linebacker out of Washington State is not your traditional three-down linebacker. Henley is more of what the NFL is evolving into, a physical run-stopping defender who is also lengthy and athletic enough to cover pass catchers.

Before an astonishing season at Wazzu, Henley was a wide receiver for the Nevada Wolfpack.

After two years on the offensive side of the ball, he transitioned to handling kick returns and linebacker.

Two seasons into making the switch to the defensive side, Henley led the Wolfpack with 103 tackles, three tackles for losses, three fumbles recovered, four pass breakups, and four interceptions.

At Wazzu, Henley finished his final season with a career-high 106 tackles (54 solos), 12 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, four sacks, two pass deflections, and one interception.

After watching his progression in the PAC-12 and a close-out performance in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Henley’s draft stock is on the rise for many reasons.

Henley is extremely raw; you see it from his tape transitioning to a linebacker, but there’s no denying his athletic ability, high motor skills, and versatility as a linebacker.

The Wazzu product can do it all: he can blitz, cover pass catchers, both wide receivers and tight ends, and get to the running back quickly.

Once a day three selection, Henley’s rise has him going as early as the second round.

If Henley is available in the third round, where I have him projected, don’t be surprised if the Raiders selected him with their 70th overall pick.

The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., from Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.

The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EST on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

Watch the NFL Playoffs live when you get your Raiders tickets from SI Tickets HERE.


Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Published
Jairo Alvarado
JAIRO ALVARADO

Home/News