The Las Vegas Raiders are suddenly 3-3 after their narrow loss to the Buffalo Bills. Klint Kubiak's team is in a downward spiral amid this three-game losing streak, but they're hoping to break the funk this week against an injured Los Angeles Rams squad.
One problem for the Raiders is that there has been a severe drop-off on defense. The group has struggled in each of the last three games and is now giving up 27.0 points per game on the year. While Rob Leonard’s group had a great start, the results fell off once the takeaway well dried up.
A team that started with eight sacks in the first two games now has gone back-to-back games with just one. Their pressure rate is high, but they are 31st in sack percentage. They can't finish plays. The defensive line, specifically the defensive tackles, has struggled to make an impact since Week 3.
And this issue could persist throughout the 2026 NFL season.
Las Vegas Raiders' defensive tackles are struggling to get QB pressure
Las Vegas currently ranks 10th in the NFL in pressure rate at 41%. While that is high, it's mostly driven by one player: Maxx Crosby. But even his 35 pressures, which are currently the second most in the league, are not turning into sacks, as he has only 2.0 during this campaign.
Crosby isn't getting help from the interior, though, which has allowed opposing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket and make plays. In the defensive tackle room, only Thomas Booker has a pass-rush win rate over 10%, which means that the Raiders' interior simply isn't winning reps.
Booker has the fewest snaps as a pass rusher in the group, too. The Silver and Black need immediate improvement here across the board. Tonka Hemingway is out with a concussion, which isn't helping, but the Raiders need someone at the position to step up and help the whole product.
One potential answer could be moving defensive end Kwity Paye inside to help the interior pass rush. Two of his team-leading 3.0 sacks have come from the interior. He could be the solution to this problem that continues to plague the Silver and Black.
Of course, the real solution could be the 2027 NFL Draft. The defensive tackle position is supposed to be stacked in April's draft. Will Echoles, A'Mauri Washington, and Xavier Gilliam are three first-round options who could improve the position.
The issue is that the draft is almost six months away, and anyone they select in the spring won't help the Raiders this season. It seems like a recurring issue that Las Vegas will have to deal with for the foreseeable future, unless a move is made at the trade deadline for someone like DeForest Buckner.
It could be disheartening for fans to know that John Spytek ignored a position that could have been addressed; the Raiders haven’t invested heavily in a vital part of the defensive line. Hemingway was the highest pick Spytek has made at the position, and he was taken in the fourth round.
As the season develops, it will be interesting to see if the room improves. For now, their being a weakness is hurting this football team.
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