For as important as it is for NFL teams to have a great quarterback, it is almost just as paramount to have a crew of players who can put pressure on him and neutralize that threat. Thankfully, the Las Vegas Raiders have one of the best in the league at that, as well as a handful of other solid players.
Maxx Crosby is the fuel that makes this group go, but veterans Kwity Paye and Malcolm Koonce should be great helpers in that aspect, and don't be shocked if Patrick Johnson gets in on the fun. Plus, this unit is comprised of great run defenders, which is another important element up front.
Week 1 should be a good jumping-off point for the defensive end room, as they have a favorable matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Putting together a strong outing on Sunday could be the first step in rewriting the franchise's record books.
Before we get too ahead of ourselves, though, we should remind ourselves who makes up this room. And maybe make a bold prediction for each one of them, because it's fun to do such a thing before the 2026 NFL season really gets off and running.
Previewing Las Vegas Raiders' DE room before crucial 2026 NFL season
Maxx Crosby
Raider Nation is familiar enough with Crosby that we don't really need to break down his game. What stands out as critical before this campaign, though, is the fact that he may have the best supporting cast of his career on the defensive line and at linebacker, and that his role must change in 2026.
With the combination of Paye and Koonce opposite himm and with several solid pass-rushing players on the interior, Crosby should get to face fewer double teams and chips than ever before. That is, if those players can do their jobs and prove to other teams that they are a threat.
Part of them achieving that will be playing extra snaps, yes, at the expense of Crosby. If Las Vegas intends to have Crosby around when it ultimately turns the tide, then he has to increase his longevity by playing fewer snaps and letting others get in a rhythm to help pick up the slack.
A switch to a 3-4 front will be a bit different for Crosby, and he didn't play at all in the preseason, so he may want to be out there a lot in the early going to get comfortable. But over the course of the year, he has to get less wear and tear on his body to decrease the odds of another big injury.
All of that said, Crosby should have a huge year, and if the Raiders are even somewhat competitive, he will stave off the trade talks once again.
Bold prediction: Crosby breaks the single-season franchise sack record with 16.5 or more.
Kwity Paye
Paye is the new kid on the block in this room, but John Spytek didn't pay him an average of $16 million per year to ease in and find his way; he must be ready to contribute immediately, and in a major way. It seems like Paye is ready to do that under Rob Leonard.
Although Paye isn't an elite pass rusher, he notched 8.0 or more sacks in two of the last three years, which would be a great total, opposite Crosby and alongside Koonce. He is a fast and twitchy player with great strength and physical tools, even if his production hasn't always matched that.
Leonard and Co. seem to have a diverse role in mind for Paye, as he's a great run stopper, and he may line up all over the defensive line to give Las Vegas some pass rush juice on the interior while not giving up any ability to stop the run. Paye should be a great addition, even if he's not an elite player.
Bold prediction: Paye hits double-digit sacks for the first time in his career.
Malcolm Koonce
Koonce has always been a fast and instinctive player with a good pace and a knack for strip sacks. But his lack of strength and shallow bag of tricks have held him back at times in the NFL, and Koonce still hasn't regained the form that he had in the latter part of the 2023 campaign.
At the end of last season, fans finally started to see glimpses of the old Koonce, and that's why Spytek felt it was imperative to re-sign him again this offseason. But if Koonce ever wants to be a big-ticket player or have long-term stability, he's got to be much more consistent than he has been.
Further removed from injury, Koonce should only continue to look more and more like his peak self. Switching to a 3-4 should benefit him, as he's a natural stand-up edge rusher, and hopefully, Leonard, his old position coach, has a solid plan for him. If he does, Koonce could really shine.
Bold prediction: Koonce finishes second on the Raiders in sacks.
Patrick Johnson
Johnson earned his spot on this team with an excellent preseason, but it remains to be seen just how involved he'll be on defense. He doesn't have tremendous tools or a strong pedigree as a rusher, but his effort and instincts as a veteran will help him produce if called upon.
It stands to reason that his biggest contributions will be on special teams, and that's fine. Johnson was tremendous in that facet this preseason, and he should continue to be in the regular season, which is important.
Bold prediction: Johnson doubles his career sack total in 2026.
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