There was a lot of hype for Christian Wilkins to return to form this season for the Raiders. That hype quickly turned into concern this offseason. The Raiders ultimately ended up releasing Wilkins in an unpleasant situation. The Raiders looked to an unsung hero to be Wilkins’ replacement: Thomas Booker.

Raiders Wire writer Justin Melo breaks down how great the return on investment has been with the addition of Booker. Here are Melo’s thoughts on the Booker addition:

Advertisement

“John Spytek made the decision to trade cornerback Jakorian Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for DT Thomas Booker IV. That decision paid immediate dividends, as Booker was outstanding in Sunday’s 20-13 Week 1 victory over the New England Patriots. Booker played 59% of Pete Carroll’s defensive snaps in Week 1, per Football Guys. That made him the most common partner for Adam Butler. Booker has essentially already overtaken Jonah Laulu as a starter in base defense. Booker was credited with three total tackles and a pass deflection. The Patriots’ offensive line struggled to deal with him as a pass rusher. Pro Football Focus credited Booker with five quarterback pressures. His pass-rushing grade was a stellar 68.7, and his run-stopping score was an acceptable 63.5. Booker was a difference-maker for Coach Carroll and Patrick Graham in Week 1. You love to see it. The decision to acquire Booker via a rare player-for-player trade with the Eagles paid immediate benefits.”

The Raiders have one of the best edge rushers in the NFL in Maxx Crosby and a complement in rising young defensive end Malcolm Koonce. If the Raiders can get a little bit of production in the interior, this defense could be one of the best in the league. Booker is already off to a good start and this is a great opportunity for him to make a name for himself in Vegas.

Thomas Booker is only 25 years old. He could go from being just a band aid solution to being a long-term piece for the Raiders. If he is as productive as he was in Week 1, Vegas becoming a home for him is not out of the realm of possibility.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Thomas Booker shines for Pete Carroll as key Raiders replacement