Las Vegas Raiders: 3 bold, early defensive predictions for 2021
By Brad Weiss
Las Vegas Raiders: 3 bold, early defensive predictions for 2021
No. 2: Raiders double their 2020 sack total
During the 2020 NFL season, the Raiders struggled mightily in terms of getting after the quarterback, an issue they tried to address this offseason. Las Vegas made their biggest splash in free agency along the edge, bringing in Yannick Ngakoue, a player they had coveted for some time.
The addition of Ngakoue is certainly going to help a group that managed to get after the quarterback only 21 times this past season, one of the lowest totals in the NFL. With he and Maxx Crosby on the edge, as Clelin Ferrell, they have enough talent at the defensive end to cause havoc.
When you consider the improvements in the secondary, which is going to make the quarterback pause a bit longer than usual, you have to think the pass rush is going to be better. Las Vegas also added some veteran talent on the interior of their defensive line, and a bold prediction would be 40-plus sacks as a unit in 2021.