Regardless of what happens with Maxx Crosby this offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders should be looking to add at least one edge defender to the roster. The defense lacked a true difference maker on the other side of Crosby to take some of the pressure off him last year. Also, head coach Klink Kubiak said at the combine that Las Vegas’ defense will pivot to a 3-4 base under recently promoted defensive coordinator Rob Leonard.
So, using Pro Football Focus’, The Athletic’s and NFL.com’s free agent rankings
and keeping the new scheme in mind, who are the Raiders’ top options at edge during 2026 NFL free agency?
Jaelan Phillips
PFF ranking: 14 overall (EDGE3)
The Athletic: 3 (EDGE2)
NFL.com: 3 (EDGE1)
Phillips has spent the better part of the last three seasons playing for Vic Fangio, as Fangio was the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator in 2023 and the Philadelphia Eagles traded for the pass-rusher ahead of the deadline last fall. So, the five-year pro certainly knows how to play as a standup outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. Also, he’s one of the best free agents available this offseason when it comes to putting pressure on the quarterback, ranking ninth at his position with 73 pressures last season, per PFF.
However, the Raiders would have to be comfortable taking a risk with Phillips’ injury history. He suffered multiple injuries in college, including a temporary medical retirement while at UCLA, and missed nine games in 2023 with a torn Achilles and 13 in 2024 after tearing an ACL. That being said, it’s worth noting that Leonard was the Dolphins’ outside linebackers coach during Phillips’ rookie year in Miami.
Odafe Oweh
PFF ranking: 7 (EDGE2)
The Athletic: 12 (EDGE3)
NFL.com: 9 (EDGE3)
On a similar note, Las Vegas could have an inside track to sign Oweh since Leonard was the Baltimore Ravens’ outside linebackers coach in 2022, Oweh’s second year in the league. Additionally, the 2021 first-round pick has been a consistent and productive pass-rusher with 47 to 51 pressures and at least five sacks during the regular season in four out of five years. He’s also done a better job of converting those pressures into sacks over the last two campaigns, recording 20.5 sacks (including playoffs) in that timeframe. Oweh is a questionable run defender, though, which is why he’s only recorded 27 career starts in 79 total games played.
Boye Mafe
PFF ranking: 22 (EDGE4)
The Athletic: 28 (EDGE5)
NFL.com: 11 (EDGE4)
Another player the Raiders have a connection to since Mafe and Kubiak just won a Super Bowl together in Seattle. Mafe’s production took a dip in 2025, recording career lows in tackles (31) and sacks (two), which was the result of him becoming more of a role player after making just four starts. The Seahawks were deep at edge this past season, especially after signing DeMarcus Lawrence in the offseason. Despite that, the 2022 second-rounder has put up at least 40 pressures in each of the last three regular seasons, topping out at 58 in 2023. Also, he’s arguably the best run defender listed here, making him the most complete player of the bunch.
K’Lavon Chaisson
PFF ranking: 91 (EDGE12)
The Athletic: 45 (EDGE7)
NFL.com: 34 (EDGE6)
After a career-year in Las Vegas two seasons ago, Chaisson continued that momentum and outdid himself again in New England with 7.5 sacks and 10 TFLs. He also had three sacks during the Patriots’ Super Bowl run and set a personal best with 54 pressures during the regular season. The latter was nearly double the former Raider’s previous high (29). At the end of the season, John Spytek talked about how he let good players leave the building during free agency last year, and Spytek has a chance to correct a mistake by bringing Chaisson back to the desert this spring.
Joseph Ossai
PFF ranking: 213 (EDGE25)
The Athletic: 74 (EDGE10)
NFL.com: 48 (EDGE8)
Ossai had a slow start to his career, missing his entire rookie season with wrist and knee injuries that needed surgery, and struggling to see the field much until year three. However, the 25-year-old who turns 26 in April is just scratching the surface of his potential and has been a decently productive pass-rusher over the last two years, totaling 74 pressures and 10 sacks. Ossai does leave something to be desired against the run and has had a tough time staying healthy, though. He played through a torn shoulder labrum in 2022 before hyperextending a knee and missing the Super Bowl that year, missed two games with a high ankle sprain the following year, and sat out the last three contests of this past season with another ankle injury.
Honorable mentions: Kwity Paye, Azeez Ojualri, Josh Uche
