Who Will Lead the Raiders in Tackles in 2023?

The Las Vegas Raiders will need several players to improve their individual defensive performances if they want to be competitive in the AFC and return to the playoffs in 2023.

Last season, the Raiders were one of the lowest ranked teams in a lot of different defensive categories, which need to rise to at least the middle of the pack if the Raiders have winning aspirations this upcoming season.

This includes having a team of defenders who are sharp tacklers. The Raiders added many defensive players in free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft in order to improve their defense.

Today, we are going to take a look at the Raiders’ top three most likely candidates to lead the team in tackles.

Defensive end Maxx Crosby -- Crosby led the team in tackles last season with 89, and he has improved his tackle numbers each of the last two seasons. As Crosby has become an increasingly good run defender, even more tackles will come from that spot.

Crosby also led the NFL in tackles for losses, and as he continues to improve as an all-around player, his league-leading and team-leading tackling categories should only go up. As Crosby aims for the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023, being the team’s leading tackler should be well within reach.

Linebacker Divine Deablo -- Now that Deablo will wear the green dot for Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham’s unit, he will likely be around the ball frequently, just like he was before his injury in 2022. Before suffering a broken arm, Deablo posted 74 tackles in eight games last season, and probably would have led the team if he played the entire season.

As linebackers are often teams’ leading tacklers, Deablo’s chances of being the team’s leading tackler are in his favor. His athleticism and speed also help him, as he will be able to aggressively attack ball carriers. Deablo has as good a chance as anyone on the Raiders’ defense.

Safety Marcus Epps -- Epps was one of the Raiders’ top free agent signings in the offseason after having an excellent season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Epps posted 94 total tackles, which would have led the Raiders.

Epps played over 1,000 snaps for the Eagles last season, and if he replicates that number next season, he has another excellent shot at posting close to 100 tackles again.

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