Rookie Raider Evaluations: Darien Butler

Rookie linebacker Darien Butler spent most of the 2022 NFL season as a performer on special teams for the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Arizona State product was picked up by the Silver and Black as an undrafted free agent last April.

Butler was a four-year starter for the Sun Devils and was named a finalist for the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) for his senior campaign.

The 22-year-old linebacker was rather impressive in the 2022 preseason, totaling seven, four, five and five tackles in the Raiders' four games.

Butler only went on to see 21 defensive snaps in his rookie season, though, yet made the most of it, particularly in his game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10.

Taking seven snaps on defense and 20 on special teams, Butler finished the game with four combined tackles, including back-to-back tackles at the start of the second half that would ultimately contribute to Indianapolis having to kick a field goal, which it missed.

Butler would see action on defense for 12 plays against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16, followed by two more in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Raiders have a pretty deep linebacker room as it is, and if Butler's future continues with the Raiders, it could very well just be more of the same next year.

There are signs that the young linebacker could be of value on defense for an NFL team, but as it looks now, he might just not fit with the Raiders.

The 2023 NFL Draft will go from April 27-29 and be held at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. On 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. EST 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. EST on March 15.

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

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