Addition of Wilkins Benefits More Than Just the D-Line

The Las Vegas Raiders' addition of defensive lineman Christian Wilkins will benefit players on the Raiders' defense as a whole.

The Las Vegas Raiders have one of the top pass-rushing duos in the league with Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce. The two combined for one of the most productive seasons of any defensive duo this past season.

With the Raiders' signing of defensive lineman Christian Wilkins this offseason, the tandem of Crosby and Koonce should be that much better.

With the Raiders' signing of defensive lineman Christian Wilkins this offseason, the tandem of Crosby and Koonce should be that much better. Few players, if any, will benefit more from Wilkins' signing than his new teammates along the defensive line. However, Raiders linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo could arguably be the biggest beneficiaries. 

The addition of Wilkins will make life easier for those surrounding him on the Raiders’ roster for various reasons. He will instantly make the defensive line better. With his presence alone, Wilkins will help alleviate many of the double teams Crosby sees on Sundays.

Wilkins helping decrease some of the double teams Crosby faces every week is one of the many benefits of signing the veteran defensive lineman.

Adding Wilkins to the fold also helps out the Raiders’ defensive backfield. Las Vegas has one of the youngest defensive backfields in the entire league. Wilkins’ presence should leave less time for opposing quarterbacks to throw the ball. This helps protect the Raiders’ young defensive backs, especially when they play two of the best quarterbacks in the league twice a year: Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.

However, as Wilkins’ signing will boost the Raiders' defensive line and backfield, his addition could significantly impact the Raiders’ linebackers more than any other unit on the team. The Raiders have a talented pair of linebackers in Spillane and Deablo. The two linebackers' unique and respective skill sets match well with Wilkins’ strengths. 

Adding Wilkins will benefit Spillane’s ability to stop the run and defend the pass. The veteran defensive lineman’s ability to take on multiple blockers will help the Raiders free up Spillane to rush the quarterback more or defend against the pass more effectively.

Deablo’s ability to flow to the football is arguably one of the best traits he brings to the linebacker position. It was one of the reasons he was moved from a defensive back to a linebacker. When the opposing team’s linemen cannot get to the second level to block Deablo, the veteran linebacker can eliminate multiple aspects of a team’s offensive game plan. 

Wilkins joining the Raiders and taking on more blocks impacts Deablo even more than Spillane, as doing so allows Deablo to play free and clear of blockers. When this happens, Deablo’s value is genuinely highlighted, as he erases the quick passes out of the backfield better than many linebackers.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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