2018 was a rollercoaster season for linebacker Jason Cabinda. Cabinda left Penn State after four seasons and declared for the NFL Draft after accumulating 169 total tackles and 5.5 sacks. However, despite his production as a Nittany Lion, Cabinda went undrafted. He signed with the Raiders in May but was waived during the final cutdowns in September.
But that wasn’t the end of Cabinda’s career in the NFL. In mid-October, the Raiders signed him to the active roster. From Weeks 8-17, Cabinda played a combined 164 snaps, 109 on run downs. While he wasn’t a full-time player, he was effective. According to Pro Football Focus, Cabinda graded out as the third-best rookie linebacker in 2018. Quite a feat for a linebacker who wasn’t even on an active roster for the first month-and-a-half of the season.
The biggest question surrounding Cabinda is his ceiling. He’s not a great athlete, but he does seem to be in the right place at the right time. Just how good can he really be? In his 164 defensive snaps, Cabinda totaled 21 tackles, and one quarterback hit. He’s also able to contribute on special teams, making his roster spot safe for next season.
Is Cabinda someone who could make a push for a starting role in 2019? It’s certainly possible. If nothing else, he provides solid depth on a rookie contract. However, I wouldn’t count him out for being the team’s starting middle linebacker next season.
