The Raiders were likely the worst team in the NFL last season picking #1 overall before this upcoming season with one of the league’s worst defenses. The Raiders had the lowest graded defense in the NFL during this past season despite the presence of future hall of famer Pete Carroll as head coach who had a defensive background. The Raiders’ personnel must have really been poor for their defense to be as bad as it was despite the presence of Carroll. In an assessment of the Raiders’ defensive personnel, it was relatively poor and the players they have on the defensive side of the ball will likely need to be better in order for Las Vegas to have a viable defense next season. Here I will go into detail assessing the Raiders’ secondary personnel heading into the 2026 season.
Set to start at the first of the two cornerback spots is former first rounder Eric Stokes who has shown an incredibly high ceiling in the NFL although lacking consistency. Stokes, playing for Green Bay in his first four NFL seasons, had a very strong rookie season which was one of the better if not one of the best ones I observed from a rookie defensive back. However, Stokes in the next three seasons really struggled grading below average among players at his position in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Stokes however struggled with injuries during that stretch and then left Green Bay for Las Vegas entering the 2025 season. Stokes, staying mostly healthy in 2025 for the first time since his rookie year, had a remarkable season grading in the borderline elite range among players at his position. Stokes has since re-signed with the Raiders and projects to be a high-end starter if he can stay healthy.
Set to start at safety for Las Vegas is former 2nd rounder Jeremy Chinn. Drafted in 2020, Chinn has had his ups and downs in his career thus far playing for three different teams. Chinn, in his first four seasons graded above average among players at his position only once but has now put together two straight above average years according to Pro Football Focus. If Chinn can maintain his form, he will be a solid starter for Vegas in their backend defense.
Currently slated to start at free safety for the Raiders is Isaiah Polo-Moa who is unfortunately the current weak link in the Vegas starting secondary. Polo-Moa is likely better suited as a backup and has graded in the below average to poor range in every season he has played thus far. Polo-Moa is not even a surefire NFL caliber player in my estimation, and he remains a prime candidate to transition to a reserve role at some point during this upcoming season especially with some of the young/upcoming players in the Vegas secondary.
2025 3rd rounder Darien Porter is set to start at the other primary cornerback spot for Las Vegas and is coming off a decent rookie year. Porter graded (95/122) in terms of an overall defense grade among players at his position in 2025 which is decent for a rookie, and he is line to build off of it going forward. Porter was taken pretty highly and is in line to become a solid starter if not more than that heading into year 2.
Rounding out the Vegas starting secondary is Taron Johnson who has had his inconsistencies thus far in the NFL although looking very strong for the most part. Johnson in eight seasons in the NFL has graded in the above average range six times, one of the outlier years was early in his career and then most recently in 2025 with the Bills. After the down year and with him now set to play next season at thirty years old, the Bills traded him and Johnson will play for a new team for the first time during this upcoming season. Johnson however has shown a very high ceiling in the NFL and has been mostly consistent while thirty years old should still mean he is in or around his prime. Johnson when he has graded in the above average range has shown a borderline elite ceiling at times, even warranting a second team All-Pro selection during the 2023 season.
From a reserve standpoint in the secondary, the Raiders have some notable names that could step into the starting lineup and/or could provide the team with some high-end depth. The Raiders drafted Treydan Stukes at the top of the 2nd round of the 2026 draft after he received second team All-American honors in his final year in college. While they also drafted two other defensive backs in the fourth and fifth round of the 2026 draft who were exceptional college players. Stukes in particular will be expected to contribute next season, while the Raiders also have a few other names in their back-end reserve unit who could potentially contribute. Overall, the Vegas secondary has what it takes to be very good next season although likely not great. As Polo-Moa remains a weak link set to start at safety while the team has no viable safety in line to take his spot as of now. While the remaining four starters have promise but are unproven/inconsistent, while the team also lacks much depth from a secondary standpoint as well.
A breakdown of the Vegas secondary heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
Projected 2026 Las Vegas Starting Secondary
LCB – Eric Stokes – B to B+, borderline elite ceiling but inconsistent, inconsistencies have perhaps been due to injuries
SS – Jeremy Chinn – C+ to B-, inconsistent, but has played consistently well for two straight seasons
FS – Isaiah Polo-Moa – D+ to C-, current weak link as of now, not NFL caliber starter, may not even be NFL caliber player
RCB – Darien Porter – C as rookie in 2025, 2025 3rd round pick
NB – Taron Johnson – B-, borderline elite ceiling, inconsistent
Notable 2026 Las Vegas Secondary Reserves
CB – Treydan Stukes – 2026 2nd rounder
