How Each Position on Raiders' Defense Improved

The Las Vegas Raiders need to make improvements to their defense after the 2022 season.
How Each Position on Raiders' Defense Improved
How Each Position on Raiders' Defense Improved /
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The Las Vegas Raiders need to make serious improvements to their defense if they want to be competitive in 2023 and return to the playoffs.

They certainly made efforts, bringing in several new faces on all three levels of the defense. Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham is heading into his second season in charge, and has new players on his unit.

With all the high-powered offenses in the AFC West, the Raiders know they need to improve defensively to be able to slow each of them down.

Let’s take a closer look at how each position group on the defensive side of the ball improved in the offseason.

Defensive Line: The Raiders were not a great defensive line unit last season, whether it was on the interior or the edge.

In free agency, the Raiders signed veteran defensive tackle John Jenkins and defensive lineman Jordan Willis to shore up some depth along the line. They also re-signed Jerry Tillery, who looked better once he joined the Raiders.

They selected Tyree Wilson with the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to take some of the pressure off Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones. They also added Byron Young and Nesta Jade Silvera on the interior during the draft.

With an influx of depth and youth on the defensive line, the Raiders’ trenches should be improved.

Linebacker: The Raiders signed Robert Spillane to a two-year, $9- million contract and selected Amari Burney in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Spillane is a smart player and hard worker, and Burney’s athleticism should earn him a fair amount of playing time.

Along with a healthy Divine Deablo, this Raiders’ linebacker unit should be improved from last season due to the athletic additions of the offseason.

Cornerback: This might be the position the Raiders focused on the most, bringing in four new faces throughout the offseason.

Brandon Facyson returns after a stint with the Indianapolis Colts. Duke Shelley and David Long Jr. also joined the Raiders through free agency, and Jakorian Bennett was a fourth round draft selection.

With players like Nate Hobbs looking to bounce back and Tyler Hall looking to earn a bigger role after a strong end to the season, the Raiders’ cornerback room has the pieces for a turnaround season.

Safety: The Raiders signed Marcus Epps to a two-year, $12-million contract after he had an excellent season with the Philadelphia Eagles. The team also brought in Jaquan Johnson and re-signed Roderic Teamer. Christopher Smith II was a fifth round draft pick.

The safety group improved greatly this offseason, mainly due to the acquisition of players possessing elite football IQ and ball skills. They will be a key factor in the Raiders’ defense this season. 

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Carter Landis
CARTER LANDIS

Carter Landis studied journalism at Michigan State University where I graduated in May of 2022. He currently is a sports reporter for a local television station, and is a writer covering the Las Vegas Raiders