Denzel Perryman

2021 Raiders Rewind: Pro Bowl Linebacker Denzel Perryman

When you bring up something working out for both the player and the team, Denzel Perryman is that example.

What kind of impact did Denzel Perryman have on the Las Vegas Raiders?

Perryman was not brought back by the Los Angeles Chargers following the 2020 season, and he signed with the Carolina Panthers. Following a preseason that saw the Las Vegas Raiders’ linebacker corps ravished by injuries, Perryman was brought in. The impact was immediate, as he quickly accounted for 36 total tackles in the first three games. He came in and became a voice for the Silver and Black’s defense, which helped lead to a playoff appearance.

Many questions surrounded Perryman when he was brought in. One of the pressing questions raised was about the linebacker’s durability. He had not played more than 13 games in his career and had had two seasons with fewer than double-digit games played. Durability turned out to be no issue, as even though Perryman did not play the whole season, he did play 15 games and was consistently available.

Luckily for Perryman, the Panthers moved on before giving him a chance.

The other question was why he was so easily given away by the Panthers. It’s rare to see a player traded away without having played a regular-season game for the team unless we’re talking about Antonio Brown and Lynn Bowden. Those questions made sense to ask with the history involved. Nevertheless, those doubts were erased as Perryman had a career year.

Perryman may have had the Panthers kicking themselves once they saw what he did this season. He totaled 154 tackles, which led the league and included him missing two games. He forced a fumble and recovered a fumble, as well as having three pass deflections. Perryman does lack in the coverage department, and that is something he has stated he wants to improve on. The team knew what they were getting with him and could not be happier with the consistent tackling and thunderous shots he had, as it was something the defense had lacked for years.

The team looks like it may contend for a playoff spot for years to come. This team had so many off-the-field distractions and a mid-season 2-5 run that would’ve crushed most teams. With all that, the Raiders ended the year on a four-game winning streak, and Perryman was a big part of it. The thinking is to lock up the core players quickly and fill the rest of the team out, and with Perryman, he’s done more than enough to secure that spot in my opinion.

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*Top Photo: Getty Images/Heavy

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