Raider Rookie Evaluations: Luke Masterson

Las Vegas Raiders undrafted free agent Luke Masterson was one of the team's most pleasant surprises this season.

It took a little while for the Wake Forest prospect to earn his break, as Masterson played just two defensive snaps in the first eight games.

Finally in Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the linebacker took the field 11 times and was able to record two assisted tackles.

The following week, Masterson earned his first-career NFL start in the Raiders' Week 10 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

While that game was one of the Silver and Black's worst of the season, Masterson was one of the few promising takeaways from the contest.

In his 47 defensive snaps, the rookie totaled six combined tackles, including one tackle for loss.

Masterson then went on to post 13 combined tackles over the Raiders' next four games.

In the team's Week 15 win over the New England Patriots, the linebacker finished with a team-leading, season-high 11 combined tackles, including a tackle for loss.

The next week, Masterson registered double-digits in tackles again, ending up with 10 combined tackles with another tackle for loss.

He finished out the season with seven combined tackles against the San Francisco 49ers and nine against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Masterson wound up with 59 combined tackles, four tackles for loss and a quarterback hit in his rookie campaign.

It's safe to say the Raiders have another reliable option at the linebacker position that they may not have expected to have early on in the season.

The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. 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. During the time 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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