Chiefs $5 million budding star predicted to cut ties with KC for Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders are set to have a pair of question marks at linebacker in the 2025 offseason, as both Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo will hit free agency and aren’t guaranteed to return. But could their future solution come from the Kansas City Chiefs?

The Raiders have one potential option for one of those spots in 2024 fifth-round pick and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, although the jury is still very much out on him after the Ohio State product has played sparingly in Year 1.

Even if Eichenberg is the future solution for a starting spot, the Raiders still need help. One NFL analyst, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, believes Las Vegas will snatch linebacker Nick Bolton from the Chiefs in 2025 free agency.

If you can’t beat ’em, poach their players. The Raiders are clearly a long way away from the Chiefs in the AFC West, but free agency is an area that could allow them close the gap.

Signing Nick Bolton away from their defense would hurt a division rival while addressing a real need on the Las Vegas defense.

Divine Deablo has not played well enough to be a guaranteed starter next season, and Robert Spillane is set to become a free agent. Bolton has been a productive starter on a few good Chiefs defenses, and he would make a good addition for a Raiders defense that has disappointed this season.

Bolton is exactly the kind of linebacker the Raiders need thanks to his ability to be an asset as a run defender and in coverage. Right now, Las Vegas doesn’t have anyone who is a plus in the latter area.

Grabbing Bolton wouldn’t just improve the Raiders’ defense and add a young player who can be part of the team’s rebuild, signing the former second-rounder would also weaken a division rival in the process.

The Chiefs are no doubt going to be interested in bringing Bolton back, seeing as how he’s a key piece of their defense. But they are only projected to have $21.8 million in cap space next offseason, according to Over the Cap, and the Raiders will have $111.2 million, so they can outbid the Chiefs if they really want Bolton.