The Las Vegas Raiders are entering the 2025 season with a revamped linebacker room and a familiar name starting to shine among the changes, second-year linebacker Amari Gainer.
After surviving the 2024 season as one of only two rookie UDFAs to make the initial 53-man roster, Gainer is now squarely in the conversation to earn a starting role on defense.
While the team brought in a mix of veteran reinforcements to patch up the linebacker corps following some offseason departures, keep an eye on Gainer as the next potential cornerstone piece on defense for head coach Pete Carroll. According to team reporter Levi Edwards, Gainer has made “noticeable strides from his rookie season,” setting the stage for what could be a breakout sophomore season in the Silver and Black.
Amari Gainer Poised for Breakout Year with Raiders Defense
GettyAmari Gainer #53 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs through a drill during mandatory minicamp.
Gainer’s journey from undrafted free agent to defensive contributor is no fluke. The Florida State and North Carolina product was just one of nine defensive players to appear in all 17 games for the Raiders last season.
Edwards reported that the linebacker “took his training regimen very seriously,” and came into mandatory minicamp in outstanding shape, which earned him The Sampson Award, voted on by teammates, coaches, nutritionists, and the training staff for the best physical transformation and work ethic.
Just look at the guy, he’s jacked.
That recognition isn’t handed out lightly, and it speaks volumes about how seriously Gainer is approaching his opportunity. Veteran linebacker Devin White, who is one of the offseason acquisitions expected to bring leadership to the linebacker room, also praised Gainer’s infectious presence.
“Man, that guy works extremely hard and he talks a lot,” White said about Gainer. “He works extremely hard and he talks a lot, but he will help this team with his energy and his dog mentality.”
As the Raiders begin training camp, Gainer is expected to see increased reps and a larger role on defense, a move that defensive coordinator Patrick Graham fully supports. Graham has quietly developed a reputation for grooming young talent on the defensive side of the ball, and his continued praise of Gainer suggests the linebacker has earned the staff’s trust.
Ready to Anchor the Middle
If there’s a common thread in Raiders’ linebacker play over the last several years, it’s been a lack of athleticism and consistency in the middle of the defense. Gainer could be the unexpected answer to both. He brings a rare combination of sideline-to-sideline speed, physicality in the run game, and enough versatility to drop back in coverage when needed.
Most importantly, Gainer has something you can’t teach: determination. After winning over the coaches as a rookie and earning consistent praise for his offseason work, all that’s left is proving it once the pads come on.
Training camp and preseason will be Gainer’s chance to solidify a starting job, and all signs point to him being ready to seize it. With no clear frontrunner locking down starting reps at linebacker, the door is wide open for him to step into a bigger role.
And if Gainer’s development continues on this trajectory, he could become one of the NFL’s biggest breakout players next season, and perhaps the long-term solution in the heart of the defense.
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