Raiders: Grading the defensive position groups entering the 2022 offseason
Defensive Ends
When it comes to the defensive end position, the Raiders have an elite combo in Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue, giving them bookends along the defensive line. Patrick Graham has long loved to run 3-4 defenses, so having a tandem like these two players is going to go a long way in him doing what he wants to do on that side of the ball.
Behind them, is another story, as Carl Nassib may be gone due to his contract, and Clelin Ferrell is more of an interior lineman at this point. Malcolm Koonce is a name to keep an eye on in his second year, especially if he showed the kind of burst we got to see in flashes last season.
The truth is, Ngakoue and Crosby are stars, and Crosby should be a cornerstone player who plays his entire career in the Silver and Black. They have to be around for the long haul, and if Koonce can step up in a big way this season, the rotation on the edge is deep.
Grade: A