I broke down the Las Vegas Raiders offensive starters in my projections, and there was a few surprises but not many. Defensively, there’s a lot more room for surprises, especially in the secondary & defensive line. There’s still roughly 3.5 months till the Raiders week 1 game vs the Miami Dolphins, but things have already started to come to light on who will be placed where positionally, and battles arise quickly throughout camp. The Raiders return few defensive starters from 2025, letting starting
defensive backs Lonnie Johnson and Kyu Blu Kelly walk, their entire linebacker core of Jamal Adams, Elandon Roberts, and Devin White still sit as free agents, and the team moved on from EDGE rushers Tyree Wilson & Charles Snowden who saw playtime in 2025. Additionally, DC Patrick Graham parted ways to head to the Steelers, and was replaced by his disciple in Rob Leonard who projects to run a heavy amount of concepts from the Mike MacDonald & Patrick Graham tree. Leonard, who’s preached aggression, physicality, and versatility has made that clear with the teams defensive additions this off-season, and I’d expect the Raiders to be a blitz first team and rank inside the top 5 for blitz rate this season.
EDGE: Maxx Crosby & Kwity Paye
This is a tough one, well, not the Maxx Crosby part, that one is pretty simple. Crosby will see a reduced workload for the Raiders in 2026, and it’s not for a bad reason. Crosby has suffered a string of knee, ankle, and basically entire lower body injuries during his career especially in recent seasons. Las Vegas needs to prioritize Crosby’s health, and while he clearly wants to play 100% of the snaps, it’s not in his or the Raiders best interest for him to do so. The Raiders are the deepest off the EDGE they have been in a long time, and they need to utilize that fully. Crosby & Paye will be the best run defending EDGE duo in the NFL, and I’d be shocked if Las Vegas doesn’t have a top 5 run defense again under Rob Leonard after ranking 5th in 2025. Kwity Paye has had an extremely up and down career, he’s been an average pass rusher though he’s also popped 32 sacks in his career including two seasons of 8+ sacks and two seasons of 4 or 4.5 sacks. The 6’3/265 pound EDGE rusher works exceptionally well as a base 5T, with some work at 7 and while he’s an average to above average athlete, Paye is strong, and wins with his speed to power consistently to pair with good hand combat skills. He’s just 27 years old, and there’s a world where Paye can succeed in Las Vegas in a rotational setting, and playing opposite Maxx Crosby should elevate his game as is. Paye will have some competition with Malcolm Koonce, who came on strong in 2025 after missing 2024 with a torn ACL. The usual recovery period to full return to play off an ACL is about 14-16 months which line Koonce up for a strong 2026 season, and he should be in line to see a majority of the Raiders pure pass rush situations. Koonce finished with a 16% pass rush win rate, and in 2023 was a standout who looked like he finally broke through with a 21% win rate, 8.5 sacks, and 51 pressures. Koonce has the makings of a strong third pass rusher, but also can be a consistent 2nd option and he improved his run defense noticeably in 2025, which should extend into 2026.
DT: Tonka Hemingway & Adam Butler
I went “bold” on this one, the Raiders saw Adam Butler take a step back in 2025, though I expect the 32 year old to rebound in 2026. Just a year removed from back to back 6.5 sack seasons, and in 2024 Butler posted 31 pressures, a 8% win rate, and 32 run stops he only posted 19 pressures, a sack, and a 5.4% win rate in 2025. The Raiders defensive line adapted from an attack front to a react front, which caused issues in the ability for the Raiders defensive line to utilize athleticism and violence, which as a response reduces their impact as pass rushers being more reactive than proactive thus reducing their overall pressure rates, win rates, and sacks due to a .5 to 1 second slower time off the ball comparative to previous seasons. Thomas Booker started 13 games for Las Vegas last season & played 603 snaps. The former Texans 5th rounder should see a large workload again, he’s a quality rotational pass rusher, and does perform well in the run game as well. Additionally, Booker did rank 1st on the Raiders and 11th in the NFL for created sacks (sacks where a teammate is credited with the sack as a result of another players efforts). Additionally, Jonah Laulu started 15 games for the Raiders last season, and played 764 snaps. The former 7th rounder of the Colts in 2024 has developed into a quality depth defensive tackle for Las Vegas, and he should see a strong rotation in 2026. As for the other starter, I went with the Raiders 4th rounder just a year ago. Hemingway didn’t see consistent snaps till week 11 where he played majority of his 195 snaps from that point on. In his brief time, Hemingway posted 9 tackles, 5 for loss, 6 QB hits, 4 sacks, a PBU, FR, and 11 pressures with a 11.5% pass rush win rate. The 6’3, 290 pounder is a bit of a tweener, he works well working across the DL from 3, 4, 5, and even some 6 technique which Rob Leonard will be looking for on his defensive line. Hemingway is athletic, he needs to add more power, but the 24 year old can certainly win with his speed to power, hand combat, and initial quickness. Hemingway was easily moved off the ball as a run defender, which could cause issues, but there’s a willingness to defend the run, and he has the athletic traits to be a capable run defender despite lacking power.
Nose Tackle: Brandon Cleveland
I predicted Cleveland to not make the 53 man roster a week ago, with Benito Jones making it over him, I now go back to having Cleveland on the roster and Jones off the roster. Cleveland will have a tough battle with Benito Jones, JJ Pegues (if he’s playing NT), and Gary Smith. Cleveland isn’t an elite pass rusher, but he does flash the traits to be at least adequate and serviceable to get 1-3 sacks a season at NT. He’s a run first defensive tackle, has an excellent anchor, strong core, and understands natural leverage. I really like the concepts of Cleveland, and he’s a moldable defender. Additionally, Cleveland does do a good job working combo blocks, he’s coming from an attack front at NC State, and he’s shown good instincts and improved technique year after year in college. The battle at NT will be interesting, and it’s possible they go with someone who isn’t on the roster as is. For now, I think Cleveland beats on Jones & Smith, while joining Pegues on the roster.
Linebacker: Nakobe Dean (MIKE), Quay Walker (SAM), Tommy Eichenberg (WILL)
To the shock of everyone, Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker are starting for Las Vegas, the battle will come on who plays the third linebacker role, when the Raiders decide to trot out three linebackers (which won’t be often). Nakobe Dean has primarily played MIKE throughout his career stemming back to Georgia, and he should do so again in Las Vegas, which will put Quay Walker back on the SAM/WILL role that he excelled at during his time at Georgia as well. Dean is refined, he’s a high end blitzing linebacker, defends the run well, and can cover but there are some clear cut injury issues with Dean having played just 17 games in one season (2022) with 25 games the last two seasons. Dean has an elite trigger, he flys downhill, tackles well, is aggressive, and in a full season can easily be a top 10-15 linebacker in the NFL as he was in 2024 with 128 tackles, 9 TFL, 3 sacks, 4 PBU, INT, 2 FR, and 2 FF through 15 games. As for Walker, he’s been transitioned to a traditional MIKE role for the Packers, which caused him struggles as he’s best when able to work in space and get downhill quickly. Walker has been banged up through his career missing 3 games in 2023, 4 in 2024, and 3 in 2025 but he’s coming off four straight seasons with 100+ tackles and 8+ TFL including three seasons with 120+ tackles. Walker is fluid in coverage, he matches up well vs TE, can work the flats, and is an instinctual run defender, additionally him and Dean should be one of, if not the best, blitzing LB duo in the NFL.
As for the Raiders third linebacker spot, it’s really a free for all between 2024 5th rounder Tommy Eichenberg, 2025 7th rounder Cody Lindenberg, free agent signing Segun Olubi, and UDFA signing Xavian Sorey. Ironically, if Sorey did play with the Bulldogs back in 2021 crossing paths with both Dean & Walker. As for the others, Segun Olubi has made his mark as a career special teams player with just 142 defensive snaps, though Olubi has the made the most of those opportunities with 21 tackles, 8 stops, 2 TFL, a PBU, and an interception. Lindenberg was a capable WILL in college, he’s a strong coverage linebacker, does a decent job vs the run, but he’s never logged an NFL snap though I think he has a bigger chance than not. Eichenberg is the clear cut option on the roster to start when in three linebacker sets. He’s played just 167 snaps in his career, but did see strides in 2025 improving as a tackler, his coverage was alright, and overall Eichenberg has seemed to adapt to the NFL speed, especially on special teams. Las Vegas likely isn’t in a true three linebacker set all that often, but when they are it could be situationally dependent for who’s lining up with Dean & Walker.
Nickel Cornerback: Taron Johnson
I am fully aware that Taron Johnson isn’t at OTA’s, he’s looking for more guaranteed money on his contract and for a veteran with just 1.7 million of 17 million guaranteed it makes sense. Johnson is coming off a down year in 2025, but the soon to be 30 year old has been one of the best NCB in the NFL since 2021. Johnson allowed a 67% reception rate, 332 yards, 2 TD, and a 97.8 QBR in 2025 along with missing 13% of his tackles the highest mark since 2019 (19.7%). Johnson still has good playmaking skills, he’s instinctual, and has shown the history of being a capable nickel defender as a run defender. Johnson isn’t likely to be the same player he was, but he can hold down the nickel, which is going to be a key role for the Raiders secondary under Rob Leonard after adopting the Patrick Graham & Mike MacDonald mold on defense. Las Vegas will likely pay Johnson a bit more GTD money in some form or fashion, however if his “holdout” extends longer then it could cause a chance for someone like Dalton Johnson to push for the starting slot role.
Boundary Cornerback: Eric Stokes & Jermod McCoy
Eric Stokes has one spot of the starting CB’s locked up after a breakout year in 2025 where he logged a career high 1037 snaps, and allowed just 261 yards, a touchdown, and 77.2 QBR off 28 receptions (50 targets). Stokes is just 27, and won’t turn 28 till after this season, he’s struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, but when healthy he’s shown the ability to play like a first round cornerback. Stokes has good ball skills, prevents separation, and he tackled well in 2025. The Raiders rewarded him with a 3 year, 30 million contract after a prove it season, and Stokes will anchor the Raiders secondary. Ideally, Stokes can stay healthy but history says he’ll likely miss at least 1-2 games which will allow the path to more playtime for Hezekiah Mases, Darien Porter, Jermod McCoy, or others. Starting opposite of Stokes, I currently have in Jermod McCoy, but that’s going to be with a big asterisk. McCoy is coming off a torn ACL and hasn’t played snap of football in game since December 21, 2024. McCoy has elite traits, was a likely top 15 pick, and fell due to the injury concern in his knee. Despite that, there’s a very good chance that McCoy won’t need surgery and/or is healthy for the 2026 season at least. Should McCoy be healthy, it’s hard to see a world where he isn’t the starter opposite Stokes and he should have a highly productive season. However, the Raiders are going to likely rotate their cornerbacks heavily, especially with injury concerns on McCoy & Stokes. 2025 3rd rounder Darien Porter had a good rookie season with 5 PBU and allowing just 256 yards, a 61% reception rate, and an 87.6 QBR. Porter will need to get better at tackling, and the 25 year old is still new to the position but he has an excellent frame, good ball skills, and natural instincts as well. Additionally, Hezekiah Masses will push to earn snaps with his ball skills, tackling, and instincts. Las Vegas has a rather young, but deep secondary and they’ll consistently find ways to rotate the DB’s to match opposing defenses and keep players well rested.
Free Safety: Treydan Stukes
The Raiders 2nd round pick should have a clear cut path to the starting FS role, Las Vegas is looking to replace Tre’Von Moehrig who left for the Panthers in 2025 & Stukes should slot in well. He’s a versatile, extremely athletic, and highly instinctual coverage defender who will show those same traits at the NFL level. Stukes can play a true FS role, but also works as a rover/robber overhang defender, can play a nickel backer role (star) and even slot into the nickel as well. The Raiders really have no competition for Stukes at free safety, with Isaiah Pola-Mao rotating back to a rover role in the overhang behind Jeremy Chinn who will play a traditional nickel star role, similar to that of Nick Emmanwori in Seattle. Stukes has the opportunity to utilize his traits and add more youth, ball skills, and instincts in the secondary for Las Vegas especially in the backend that has struggled to find a consistent rotation of safeties.
Strong Safety: Jeremy Chinn
Chinn will play more of a star role, as mentioned above, but still will work in packages as the free safety. Should Las Vegas look to run a safety behind Chinn & opposite of Stukes that will come down to Dalton Johnson or Isaiah Pola-Mao for who’s best suited in the role. In his first season with the Raiders, Chinn saw his versatility tick up, but he was consistently put into positions that wasn’t similar to his previous success playing extremely close to the LOS almost as a nickel cornerback. The 6’3, 220 safety is exceptionally athletic and can work across the formation in a variety of roles, though he’s best when able to work near the LOS, utilize his first step, and play physical in a variety of concepts. Chinn had 114 tackles, 3 TFL, a sack, 2 PBU, and 2 FF to go along with 31 run stops, and just a 10% missed tackle rate. Given his playstyle he’s not an elite coverage defender, and Chinn was asked to play deep more often than not which led him to allow 7 touchdowns, and a 135 QBR but just 339 yards and a 77% reception rate. Chinn should play a nickel rover role, allowing him to be aggressive vs the run, use his size and matchup skills against the pass, and also consistently find ways to impact the game in blitz packages or rotation with Treydan Stukes/Dalton Johnson/Isaiah Pola-Mao. Headed into a contract year, I’d expect a strong season out of Chinn and likely more production on the ball in the air.
