Las Vegas Raiders: 3 position groups that could be an issue in 2021
Las Vegas Raiders: 3 position groups that could be an issue in 2021
Defensive End
As stated earlier, Ngakoue was added in the offseason to help with the Las Vegas pass rush, which has been one of the worst in the league since Khalil Mack was traded. Even with the addition of Ngakoue, there is no guarantee that this group will be able to produce at a better level than last year.
Many will look for Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell to be more productive now that Ngakoue will take some of the double teams. That should ideally be the case. If they can’t produce more sacks and pressure than last season, then Vegas’s only other options are Carl Nassib and rookie Malcolm Koonce.
Nassib failed to impress in 2020, starting in only five games out of the 14 he played in. In those games, he was only able to achieve 2.5 sacks, all of this came while under a contract for three years that’s worth 25 million dollars.
Koonce is an unproven rookie who will likely specialize in pass-rush situations only. So, if the top three defensive ends in the group don’t produce, then there isn’t anyone who can pick up the slack.