player. 28. ILB Perry Riley Jr. came to the Raiders and played well this year, improving the Raiders’ run defense. And Aldon Smith will at least be back be the 2017 season, moving versatile Bruce Irvin inside next to him. After that, Corey James is next in line and Ben Heeney doesn’t even look like a good back up.
<p>And as bad as Malcolm Smith is these days, he shouldn’t be back as his contract runs out this season. The Raiders can’t pay him what they paid him last contract with the contracts they have coming up. So the Raiders would be wise to build a little more depth at the position behind Riley and Irvin.</p>
<p>So here in the seventh round, the Raiders take Hardy Nickerson Jr. to compete for a linebacker spot. He’s coming off a productive season with 92 tackles with 5.5 for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions on the year. Nickerson could come in as a backup linebacker and special teams contributor.</p>
<p>He transferred to Illinois for his senior year to play for his father, Hardy Nickerson Sr., recently hired as defensive coordinator. Nickerson was solid for California, where he had 112 tackles with one sack in 2015. The Raiders saw enough of him when he was right down the street to bring him in.</p>. ILB. Illinois. Hardy Nickerson. 7