And have you heard what new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard – yes, the Raiders former defensive line coach – is installing?
So how will the fast-moving and hard-hitting Walker fit as an inside linebacker next to Dean, a former college teammate at Georgia, along with Stokes and tight end Brock Bowers, in that new 3-4 base scheme?
“I’m really excited to do that because I played with [Dean] before … so it’s just another opportunity for us to go out there and to showcase our talent and just to bring a type of energy, intensity, to the defense and just add to it. Just bring a whole lot of grit that the other guys can feed up on and, hopefully, they can match our energy, which I know they would. I know Rob is going to use us in the right way and set us up for success.
“It’s going to fit perfectly. … I’m not going to go into everything, but I know he’s going to use me the right way, lining me up in different positions and just moving me all around so other teams can’t really recognize what I’m going to do.”
Then there’s the possibility of Paye lining up opposite Crosby to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
“It’s going to be crazy, man,” Paye said. “Just seeing him pursue and just his relentless pursuit throughout the down, just … to play with him and get after it. I played with [DT] Jonah [Laulu] in Indy for a little bit … playing with some ballers. It will be great.”