Objectives for Each Raiders Defensive Position Group

Take a look at what the Las Vegas Raiders should hope to get out of each of their defensive position groups.

The Las Vegas Raiders are preparing for the 2023 NFL regular season, hoping to get back to the postseason after a year’s absence.

If they want to return to the playoffs, they will need to make some serious strides defensively. The Raiders were one of the worst teams in the NFL on defense last season by several metrics.

Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham is entering his second season calling the defense, and after adding several new faces to that side of the ball this offseason, is hoping for a defensive turnaround.

Let’s take a look at the Raiders’ defense and see what each position group must do in order to have a successful season.

Defensive Line: Help Maxx Crosby -- The Raiders were last in the AFC in sacks last season with 27, and Crosby had 12.5 of them. Crosby can’t be the only player on the defensive line getting after the quarterback and stopping the run.

The Raiders need a bounce back season from defensive end Chandler Jones, whose first season in Las Vegas did not go as planned. Posting only four and a half sacks, the Raiders need him to rediscover his level of play from previous seasons.

Contribution from rookie first-round pick Tyree Wilson will also be important, whenever he can get on the field. The Raiders also need help from players like Bilal Nichols and Jerry Tillery to create pressure on the interior.

Linebackers: Mistake-Free Football -- The Raiders’ starting linebackers this year are slated to be Divine Deablo and Robert Spillane, whose skill sets complement each other.

Deablo is a faster, more athletic linebacker while Spillane is more instinctive and an aggressive downhill attacker. What they both need to do this season, however, is limit lapses in coverage.

While they are both smart players with good instincts, both have their shortcomings in coverage. Stopping pass catchers over the middle of the field and limiting those big gains will be crucial for both Deablo and Spillane.

Defensive Backs: Young Player Development -- The Raiders added several new faces to their defensive back room, many of them on the younger side.

Players like Nate Hobbs and Tre’von Moehrig are looking to bounce back from sub-par 2022 seasons. The Raiders made veteran additions as well, like Marcus Peters and Marcus Epps to help the young players mitigate their mistakes.

Fourth-round rookie Jakorian Bennett is an extremely explosive and athletic player, and it might be hard for the Raiders to keep him off the field. With all this youth at cornerback and safety, the Raiders need those players to develop quickly so they can be consistent contributors sooner.

The Silver and Black open the preseason by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.

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