5 things Las Vegas Raiders fans should be thankful for in 2021
By Brad Weiss
![LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 26: Defensive end Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders is introduced before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Dolphins 31-28 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 26: Defensive end Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders is introduced before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Dolphins 31-28 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fjustblogbaby-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1343094663-850x560-d7b85392b2e4cc7f0dee8dfd6b5903e7a7f5b1c0f4b125ab249b7f8bb85a6cee.jpg)
5 things Raiders fans should be thankful for in 2021
Signing Yannick Ngakoue
During the offseason, the Raiders had a lot of work to do in terms of the roster, especially when it came to getting after the quarterback. During the 2020 NFL season, not only was the defense bad as a whole, but the lack of a pass rush allowed some of the elite quarterbacks in the league to sit back there and pick them apart.
To make up for this, the Raiders went out and signed a key free agent in Yannick Ngakoue, a player that had been on the franchise’s radar for some time. Since putting on the Silver and Black, Ngakoue has been outspoken as to how good both he, and Maxx Crosby would be as a duo, and he has not disappointed.
In what has turned out to be a rare solid free agent signing for this franchise, Ngakoue is an absolute terror coming off the edge, and it has helped propel Crosby into becoming a superstar. Overall, this is a guy that the franchise has to be thankful for, and hopefully, the defense will start to play more consistently with both he and Crosby coming off the edge.