If you read my previous two pieces on the Las Vegas Raiders entering the 2025 season you could see that I felt they were potentially an explosive offense but were in line to leave much to be desired on defense. Las Vegas has since moved off defensive minded head coach Antonio Pierce and has replaced him with another defensive minded head coach in Pete Carroll. Pierce was not qualified for the position to begin with to many and had mostly a forgettable tenure as the head coach of the franchise. While Pete Carroll is one of the most established and decorated coaches in football history. Winning two national championships on the collegiate level and a Super Bowl on the NFL level as a head coach. Carroll, outside of Bill Belichick who is almost inarguably the greatest NFL head coach ever, is considered by many including myself, to be the greatest defensive head coach in not just NFL history but in football history given his winning track record in college football as well. Given Carroll’s track record of winning in college football in addition to his NFL winning track record, it would not be a stretch to say that Carroll is the greatest defensive head coach in football history. Carroll will have his work cut out for him in fixing the Raiders’ defense heading into 2025 as Las Vegas was one of the weakest defensive teams this past season. The Raiders’ 2024 major defensive metrics can be found below to begin my analysis of Las Vegas defensively heading into 2025.
Las Vegas Raiders 2024 Major Defensive Metrics
26th in points per game allowed
15th in yards per game allowed
31st in overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus
As you can see from the above the Raiders really struggled defensively this past season ranking bottom five in both points allowed and overall defense grade. Pete Carroll has retained the defensive coordinator of the Raiders from the Antonio Pierce era in Patrick Graham. Although the Raiders’ defense really struggled in the 2024 season, the previous season in 2023 the Raiders’ defense coordinated by Graham ranked top ten in the league in points allowed. Carroll and Graham will have their work cut out for them in fixing the incredibly subpar Raiders’ defense from the 2024 season. Outside of the defensive coaching staff the personnel that the Raiders field next season on the defensive side of things will also loom large. I have conducted an evaluation of the Raiders’ defensive personnel from the 2024 season and also headed into the 2025 season. I have first included the defense grade that the player was assigned by Pro Football Focus over the course of the 2024 season. In addition to it I have included my own subjective grade of the player that indicates how strong I feel they are in totality outside of just the 2024 season. Beginning below with the front seven of the team during the 2024 season.
2024 Raiders Front Seven
Interior Defensive Line
DL – Adam Butler – (77/146) defense grade in 2024 over 856 snaps, C
DL – John Jenkins – (96/146) defense grade in 2024 over 606 snaps, C+
DL – Jonah Laulu – (118/146) defense grade in 2024 over 474 snaps, C
DL – Christian Wilkins – (19/146) defense grade in 2024 over 246 snaps, B+ to A-
DL – Zach Carter – (120/146) defense grade in 2024 over 263 snaps, D+
DL – Matthew Butler – (84/146) defense grade in 2024 over 101 snaps, C
DL – Nesta Jade Silvera – (128/146) defense grade in 2024 over 71 snaps, D
Edge Defenders
ED – Maxx Crosby – (29/135) defense grade in 2024 over 766 snaps, A to A-
ED – Tyree Wilson – (52/135) defense grade in 2024 over 524 snaps, C+ to B-
ED – K’Lavon Chaisson – (70/135) defense grade in 2024 over 508 snaps, C
ED – Charles Snowden – (78/135) defense grade in 2024 over 405 snaps, C
ED – Janarius Robinson – (132/135) defense grade in 2024 over 109 snaps, C
ED – Andre Carter II – (129/135) defense grade in 2024 over 16 snaps, C-
ED – Amari Gainer – (135/135) defense grade in 2024 over 12 snaps, D-
Linebackers
LB – Robert Spillane – (33/92) defense grade in 2024 over 1093 snaps, C+ to B-
LB – Divine Deablo – (72/92) defense grade in 2024 over 689 snaps, C to C+
LB – Luke Masterson – (87/92) defense grade in 2024 over 102 snaps, C+
LB – Amari Burney – (72/92) defense grade in 2024 over 101 snaps, C-
LB – Tommy Eichenberg – (92/92) defense grade in 2024 over 78 snaps, D-
2024 Raiders Key Front Seven Metrics
13th in rushing yards per game allowed
13th in run defense according to Pro Football Focus
27th in pass rush grade according to Pro Football Focus
22nd in sacks
As you can see from this final set of data and also the personnel that I listed of the team, the Raiders indeed struggled in their front seven this past season. Referencing the personnel of the team you could see that outside of star edge rusher Maxx Crosby and standout interior defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, the front seven of the team was comprised of almost entirely just average to mediocre caliber NFL players. The concerns in the front seven become even larger when you consider the fact that Wilkins missed most of the season due to injury. 2023 first round pick Tyree Wilson struggled as a rookie but played well in his second season in 2024 but has still yet to come into his own. Linebacker Robert Spillane is a solid starter as well. Headed into next season, the Raiders can expect to have a much better front seven than they did in the 2024 campaign. As some key players return from injury and Las Vegas has made some notable additions to their front seven in the offseason cycle as well. The Raiders’ projected 2025 front seven lineup can be found below.
2025 Projected Raiders Front Seven
Starters
LDE – Maxx Crosby – A to A-
LDT – Christian Wilkins – B+ to A-
RDT – Adam Butler – C
RDE – Malcolm Koonce – B+
WLB – Germaine Pratt – C+
MLB – Elandon Roberts – B-
SLB – Tommy Eichenberg – D- so far in very limited snaps as 2024 5th rounder
Reserves
ED – Charles Snowden – C
DL – Leki Fotu – D+
DL – Jonah Laula – C
ED – Tyree Wilson – C+ to B-
LB – Devin White – C-
LB – Cody Lindenberg – 2025 seventh rounder
ED – Ovie Oghoufo – UDFA 2024, 0 career snaps
DL – Tonka Hemingway – 2025 fourth rounder
DL – J.J Pegues – 2025 sixth rounder
ED – Andre Carter II – C-
LB – Michael Barrett – 2024 seventh rounder, 0 career snaps
LB – Jaylon Smith – C+
ED – Jah Joyner – UDFA 2025
DL – Tank Booker – UDFA 2025
DL – Laki Tasi – UDFA 2025
ED – Jahfari Harvey – UDFA 2025
LB – Amari Gainer – UDFA 2024, 12 career snaps
LB – Matt Jones – UDFA 2025
Headed into next season, if you look at the starting personnel the Raiders are projected to have in their front seven you can see that they are in pretty good shape. Maxx Crosby returns to the lineup with him being one of the premier defensive players in the sport. Chrisitan Wilkins also returns but will hopefully be available much more as he was not able to play for most of last season due to injury. In addition to Wilkins returning from injury the Raiders also saw front seven standout Malcolm Koonce miss the entire 2024 season due to injury as well. Koonce returns to the lineup and can now hopefully stay healthier. The Raiders this offseason have added two solid linebackers to their roster in Germaine Pratt and Elandon Roberts who are both in line to start as well. As of now the Raiders in their front seven have three well above average players in line to start in the likes of Crobsy, Wilkins, and Koonce. The Raiders also have two solid starters in Elandon Roberts and Germaine Pratt as well. The remaining two starting front seven spots are a concern as of now as both the players slated to start there are both likely better suited as backups as of now.
From a depth standpoint in the front seven the Raiders have a few notable names who could provide strong depth for the team and could eventually compete for a starting spot. Tyree Wilson, who was a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, really struggled as a rookie but had a solid sophomore campaign in 2024. Heading into year 3 being drafted so high, having a strong second season, while showing large improvements, Wilson will be in line to break out as a star. In addition to Wilson off the bench, Jaylon Smith, the former Dallas Cowboy standout, could provide strong depth and/or threaten for a starting role as well. Jaylon Smith, who to start off his career was amongst the better linebackers in professional football but who has really struggled with injuries since, could provide Las Vegas with a strong player. Smith is still relatively young at 30 years old and not too long ago in the 2021 season graded (25/93) in terms of an overall defense grade among qualified linebackers. If Smith can stay healthy and potentially recapture some of his old prime form, he could potentially threaten for a starting role in the Raiders’ front seven in 2025.
Overall, the Raiders’ front seven was pretty subpar this past season but was still solid to a certain extent. They ranked above average in both rushing yards per game allowed as well as overall run defense grade according to Pro Football Focus. They did not rank near the bottom of the league in terms of sacks although still ranking in the bottom ten. Headed into next season the Raiders’ high-end talent in their front seven in Koonce, Wilkins, and Crosby ranks up there with any NFL team. As all three of those players consistently grade to be in the well above average to elite range as overall players. 2023 first rounder Tyree Wilson who looked strong last year after a disappointing rookie season could potentially join that group as well. Jaylon Smith, Germaine Pratt, and Elandon Roberts could round out the starting front seven lineup as well as all three players are potentially solid starters. The Raiders’ front seven if it can stay healthier than it did this past season and if certain players step up their game and play to near their potential, could be a solid to a very good unit. However, the front seven in my estimation does not have a great ceiling and as of now in my estimation is indeed lacking depth. The unit in totality is likely a year away from where Pete Carroll would like it to be, although it could certainly be an above average unit next season. I have conducted a similar analysis of the Raiders’ secondary during the 2024 season and also headed into the 2025 campaign below.
2024 Raiders Secondary
Cornerbacks
CB – Jack Jones – (106/128) defense grade in 2024 over 1047 snaps, B-
CB – Decamerion Richardson – (123/128) defense grade in 2024 over 559 snaps, D+
CB – Nate Hobbs- (75/128) defense grade in 2024 over 554 snaps, B to B-
CB – Jakorian Bennet – (90/128) defense grade in 2024 over 459 snaps, C
CB – Darnay Holmes – (105/128) defense grade in 2024 over 298 snaps, C-
CB – Kyu Blu Kelly – (127/128) defense grade in 2024 over 14 snaps, D
CB – Sam Webb – (53/128) defense grade in 2024 over 13 snaps, C
Safeties
S – Trevon Moehrig – (39/104) defense grade in 2024 over 1099 snaps, B to B-
S – Isaiah Pola-Mao – (87/104) defense grade in 2024 over 952 snaps, C-
S – Marcus Epps – (100/104) defense grade in 2024 over 176 snaps, C+
S – Thomas Harper – (10/104) defense grade in 2024 over 191 snaps, A-
S – Chris Smith II – (17/104) defense grade in 2024 over 11 snaps, B-
2024 Raiders Key Secondary Metrics
15th in passing yards per game allowed
32nd in coverage grade according to Pro Football Focus
As you can see from this last metric and also from the personnel of the team, the Raiders had a very strong argument for being the weakest overall secondary in the NFL during the 2024 campaign. They ranked last in terms of coverage grade by a margin and they had maybe one solidified starting caliber player in their back end. Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones are talented but inconsistent players in the Raiders’ back end and their inconsistency showed this past season having down years. At safety, Trevon Moehrig is good but not great and is perhaps the only bona-fide starting caliber player on the Raiders’ back-end defense. Although Thomas Harper who was a 2024 undrafted free agent has looked very strong in very limited NFL snaps thus far. Headed into next season, addressing the secondary was perhaps the biggest concern of the roster and the team has revamped the unit. The projected 2025 Raiders’ secondary lineup can be found below.
Projected 2025 Raiders Secondary
Starters
LCB – Darien Porter – 2025 third rounder
SS – Jeremey Chinn – C+
FS – Isaiah Pola-Mao – C-
RCB – Eric Stokes – C to C+
NB – Darnay Holmes – C-
Reserves
CB – Jakorian Bennett – C
SS – Lonnie Johnson Jr – C
FS – Thomas Harper – A- in very limited snaps
CB – Decamerion Richardson – D+ so far as 2024 fourth rounder
CB – Sam Webb – C
CB – Mello Dotson – UDFA 2025
SS – Trey Taylor 2024 seventh rounder, 0 career snaps
FS – Chris Smith II – C+ to B- in 33 career snaps
CB – John Humphrey – UDFA 2025
CB – Kyu Blu-Kelly – D
FS – Hudson Clark – UDFA 2025
CB – Greedy Vance Jr – UDFA 2025
As you can see from the above, although the Raiders have made some additions to their secondary this offseason, the unit in totality remains a concern. The Raiders’ back-end defense heading into next season still projects to be amongst the weakest in the NFL. However, if young players with potential such as Darien Porter, Decamerion Richardson, and Thomas Harper in particular can all have strong seasons, the Raiders could be respectable in the backend. The Raiders’ floor in their back-end defense is having among the weakest secondaries in the NFL. However, if several players play really well, then the secondary could be respectable if not solid. The likely scenario is that the Raiders will have amongst the weakest secondaries next season and the back end of their defense will likely be the undoing of the team.
Overall, on the defensive side of the ball the Raiders were amongst the weakest teams in the NFL this past season. Headed into next season, new defensive minded head coach Pete Carroll will have his work cut out for him to fix that defense. The Raiders’ high-end talent in their front seven ranks up there with any NFL team although the rest of the front seven in concerning. The front seven has what it takes to be a solid to an above-average unit but likely not more than that. While as of now the front seven in terms of raw talent is in the average to mediocre range among all teams in my estimation. While the secondary of the defense is in the definitive discussion for being the weakest overall secondary in the NFL as of now, although the unit has some young players with potential. The Raiders have what it takes in my estimation to be an elite offensive team next season. However, their talent on defense is in the below average range as of now. The question will be if Pete Carroll can make the Raiders’ defense respectable next season in order to hold the fort down for the explosive offense that Las Vegas could have. The Raiders’ path towards seeing success next season is akin to that of the 2018-19 Kansas City Chiefs who nearly made the Super Bowl. Led by an explosive offense but in totality a below average defense with maybe the weakest pass defense in the NFL with an elite defensive line that made the defense respectable however. A defense that was still good enough to hold the fort down for the explosive offense to win them games, however. That Chiefs’ team came within perhaps a coin toss of making the Super Bowl and likely being favored in it. The question will be if Pete Carroll can make this Raiders’ defense good enough to do something similar next season. As the Raiders offensively have what it takes next season to be elite caliber like the Chiefs in 2018-19, the Raiders have potentially an elite defensive line like the Chiefs that season, while both the teams share struggles in the back end of their defense.
