ยฉ Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Two Raiders Among NFL's Top D-Line Tackle Leaders
Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins are No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, in combined tackles by a D-lineman over the last two NFL seasons.
Many are anticipating the tandem of Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to be one of the best defensive line duos in the league next season.
As if there needed to be more reason for one to have such an expectation, the two havoc-wreaking linemen have been in select company in a particular category over the last two NFL seasons.
Since the start of the 2022 season, Crosby has led all defensive linemen in combined tackles (179), while his new teammate Wilkins has recorded the third-most (163) of all defensive linemen in that span, per The 33rd Team.
Last season, Crosby finished third among defensive linemen in combined tackles (90), trailing only Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Harrison Phillips (92) and Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown (103). Wilkins, meanwhile, finished sixth with 65.
The year prior, Wilkins led all defensive linemen in combined tackles with 98, while Crosby finished second with 89.
Wilkins was signed by Las Vegas this offseason after spending his first five NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins, who selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. In his 81 games as a Dolphin (77 starts), Wilkins totaled 355 combined tackles, 43 for loss, 50 quarterback hits, 20.5 sacks, 19 passes defensed, six fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and an interception.
Crosby, who was in the same draft class as Wilkins, has posted 321 combined tackles, 88 for loss, 124 quarterback hits, 52.0 sacks, 18 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his 83 games (77 starts) as a Raider.
The three-time Pro Bowler was named to the Associated Press' All-Pro Second Team for his 2023 campaign and was named a finalist for the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award.
Crosby finished the season with a career-high and league-leading 23 tackles for loss. It was the second year in a row he led the league in the category, as he recorded 22 in the 2022 season.
The star edge rusher has three years left on his contract, while Wilkins signed for four years. Raider Nation can only hope the two make the most of their time together.
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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