Oakland Raiders: Jason Cabinda is an undrafted free agent gem
The Oakland Raiders had a crazy 2018 NFL Draft, but they may have found themselves a gem at its conclusion in Penn State LB Jason Cabinda…
If Jon Gruden’s goal with the 2018 Oakland Raiders is to turn the clock back 20 years and party like it’s 1998, he’s got to have the players to do it.
Gruden’s strategy in the 2018 NFL Draft was a little mind-boggling at times, but the Raiders came away with players they had clearly zeroed in on from the start.
At the end of the 2018 NFL Draft, they came away with a true throwback at the linebacker position in Penn State’s Jason Cabinda, a player who has started 35 games over the past three seasons, including 13 as a senior.
Cabinda has been extremely productive in his time at Penn State, racking up 285 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles in his career.
Watching him play, it’s easy to see why the Raiders and their goals to throw it back to ’98 wanted him.
More from NFL Mocks
- NFL Draft: Ranking the top signal callers of the 2024 NFL QB Class
- 2024 NFL Mock Draft Journal: Cardinals, Falcons tank for USC QB Caleb Williams
- Patriots News & Rumors: Ezekiel Elliott talks fun in Foxboro; Mills to Packers?
- Fantasy Football: 5 reasons Colts QB Anthony Richardson can be a top-end option
- Packers’ Lukas Van Ness will make a Lambeau leap into the NFL in 2023
Cabinda is a true downhill linebacker, one who attacks the line of scrimmage and attacks blockers with a passion.
One of the toughest things college linebackers struggle with is shedding blocks, and Cabinda has just decided to destroy anyone who gets in his path.
In a straight line, this is a player that can really help a defense.
When it comes to playing sideline to sideline? He struggles a bit.
When forced to play in space, Cabinda is not nearly as effective as he is in the running game and attacking the line of scrimmage.
When he can play downhill, he’s going to bring the wood.
The Raiders definitely got a player here that is worth developing. Cabinda is known for his toughness and leadership, and those two qualities will endear him to Gruden and the Raiders’ coaching staff.
If he can earn himself a job on special teams right away, which he should be able to do, I think in a year or two he can crack the Raiders’ defensive rotation and be a run stopping linebacker for them.