Three Raider Defensive Players to Watch for Next Season

Las Vegas Raiders Malcolm Koonce, Nate Hobbs, and Tyree Wilson are three defensive players to watch for next season.

Denver Broncos v Las Vegas Raiders / Ethan Miller/GettyImages

The Las Vegas Raiders finished the 2023-24 NFL regular season with a top-10 defense and hope to repeat this feat next season. 

So far, in this 2024 NFL free agency, the Silver and Black have focused on the defensive side of the ball by signing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and re-signing safety Isaiah Pola-Mao and defensive tackles John Jenkins, and Adam Butler. 

In a recent Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast with our own Hondo Carpenter Sr., three defensive Raiders to watch for next season were discussed. It starts with edge rusher Malcolm Koonce, who finished the 2023-24 NFL season with the best campaign of his career. He ended the season with 43 combined tackles, 32 solo tackles, nine tackles for loss, and eight sacks, all of which were career highs.

According to Pro Football Focus, Koonce finished the season with an overall grade of 81.3, a run defense grade of 66.3, and a pass-rush grade of 78.9. 

Raiders defensive back Nate Hobbs is also a player to watch for next season. In his third season with the Silver and Black, 2023-24, Hobbs recorded 86 total tackles, 59 solo tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception. 

According to PFF, Hobbs ended the season with an overall PFF grade of 69.0, a run defense grade of 78.8, a pass-rush grade of 45.8, and a coverage grade of 68.1.

Lastly, defensive end Tyree Wilson will be a player to watch for. Wilson could be a massive factor on the Silver and Black's defense next season if he stays healthy.

Wilson ended his rookie season with 29 combined tackles, 16 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two tackles for loss. Wilson finished with an overall PFF grade of 47.1, a run defense grade of 47.6, and a pass-rush grade of 50.4.

The last episode of the Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast can be watched when you click here.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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