2026 Defense thread

[STHfrontrow]

This defense doesn't have much talent at all especially after the Maxx trade. 1st time Def Coach Rob Leonard really doesn't haven't much to work with but that should change.

Are we leading with Wilson & Chinn?

Figure the Raiders might draft 1 or 2 defensive players within the 4 picks they have in the top of the draft that might be day one starters. Looks like overall though this defense is going to be built through free agency.

Thoughts.

[BoKnows81]

Browns the new raiders. They reworked watsons contract with now huge cap hits next year and year after. They should have gone full rebuild but are trying to win now with crap quarterbacks.

Agreed. Garrett should of been long gone. Glad to see the Raiders are doing it the right way.

[chucker]

Browns the new raiders. They reworked watsons contract with now huge cap hits next year and year after. They should have gone full rebuild but are trying to win now with crap quarterbacks.

WTF are you talking about? They have a pro bowl QB.

[Attyla]

What's your definition of improving a team? Bc to me, if the Raiders record improves every year starting this year and while Maxx is in Baltimore, which I'd bet my life it does, then we in fact improved our TEAM. And trading Maxx while obtaining the picks in fact accelerates the chance to improve our team.

And honestly if I were the Browns, I'd ship Garrett's ass out bc the haul they would get would send them in the right direction very quickly.

record is not a reflection of team improvement. It is a factor but if we win one more game next year, that does not mean we improved. And if we see significant improvement in record, Crosby's departure is not going to be the defining reason. Free agency and the draft will play a factor. Coaching also will play a significant part in that. You simply cannot view one move as a defining reason for improvement or regression of a team outside the QB. You seem to view the Maxx move coupled with Mendoza as defining moves. That is great and good for you. I view it as steps. And if we see improvement it is because of all the steps, not just a couple.

But Mraasdlidgv;lsdajg is always going to look a the simplest of answers because he is myopic and has never looked at the big picture. So again, sadly I do see him as believing his nonsense

[BoKnows81]

record is not a reflection of team improvement. It is a factor but if we win one more game next year, that does not mean we improved. And if we see significant improvement in record, Crosby's departure is not going to be the defining reason. Free agency and the draft will play a factor. Coaching also will play a significant part in that. You simply cannot view one move as a defining reason for improvement or regression of a team outside the QB. You seem to view the Maxx move coupled with Mendoza as defining moves. That is great and good for you. I view it as steps. And if we see improvement it is because of all the steps, not just a couple.

But Mraasdlidgv;lsdajg is always going to look a the simplest of answers because he is myopic and has never looked at the big picture. So again, sadly I do see him as believing his nonsense

Listen we will agree to disagree on certain things but if you see it as steps to getting better, thats fine. I can agree with that. But I would say that trading an aging Maxx and getting top value for him is the biggest and most important step (after hiring the coach and getting our QB) we can take to improving our team, both in production and record.

[Attyla]

WTF are you talking about? They have a pro bowl QB.

Flag football is the future

[Willmark]

If by some miracle we can be around 20-22 in Defense that is a massive win IMO.

Not everything can happen year 1 but in 2027? We have two first round picks in a very heavy QB class. Doesn't matter if even half those QBs pan out because we don't care.

What we do care about?

Is a team desperately trying to leapfrog others and needing our pick to do it. And with the likelihood of some talented players sliding down? All the better for us.

[SuperRaider]

Losing Crosby was going to hurt; but the raiders are the worse team in the NFL right now;basically the raiders need to rebuild and right now the number one thing that need addressing is offensive line; I rather go after offensive players from the draft and build the defense from free agency this year….

[Attyla]

I am going to drop this right here since I think it makes sense.

Not that I want us to neglect the defense, we have been doing that for years. But we need to build the offense up fast with young players to grow together. This free agent class is not the best ever but spend on younger guys like Linderbaum and others. Sure, pick up some defensive guys but the focus should be two fold. Protect the QB and open up holes for Jeanty. This should be the singular goal. The secondary goal should be to add pieces to the defense as long as the singular goal is met. And I am talking free agency and the draft. Give Mendoza every chance to be successful and that does mean Jeanty and Bowers are who we go through on offense. So fix the line, give Mendoza an outlet receiver and then we go after the defense....after the offense is fixed.

[Rabidraider]

I am going to drop this right here since I think it makes sense.

Not that I want us to neglect the defense, we have been doing that for years. But we need to build the offense up fast with young players to grow together. This free agent class is not the best ever but spend on younger guys like Linderbaum and others. Sure, pick up some defensive guys but the focus should be two fold. Protect the QB and open up holes for Jeanty. This should be the singular goal. The secondary goal should be to add pieces to the defense as long as the singular goal is met. And I am talking free agency and the draft. Give Mendoza every chance to be successful and that does mean Jeanty and Bowers are who we go through on offense. So fix the line, give Mendoza an outlet receiver and then we go after the defense....after the offense is fixed.

I agree about the offense, but with over 120 million in cap space and a huge amount of draft capital I think we can prioritize the offense but still kick ass on players on defense.

Linderbram, and/or Zion Johnson and Ioane for the line

Players like Phillips or Hendrickson for edge

Alec Pierce for wideout

And that's just a small part of the money and draft capitol.

Team must focus on both lines.

The next 3 days are going to be fun.

[Rabidraider]

Speaking of defense, with the new 3-4, who is going to play nose tackle?

[CWood24]

Speaking of defense, with the new 3-4, who is going to play nose tackle?

Right now we only have Pegues & that’s it, there are many true 0 or 1 tech types around seems like a dying breed

Not many options in FA but some experienced guys like DJ Reader or Andrew Billings

I think we may draft one for me Kayden MacDonald (1st), Lee Hunter(2nd) & Deontay Corleone(3rd) are the top 3 depending where you take one

As i said for me the key to a good 3-4 defence is a strong powerful NT that can anchor the line

[Attyla]

Speaking of defense, with the new 3-4, who is going to play nose tackle?

I might consider Darrell Jackson in the third.

[BoKnows81]

Yep, we can get our NT in the later rounds.

[Rabidraider]

Right now we only have Pegues & that’s it, there are many true 0 or 1 tech types around seems like a dying breed

Not many options in FA but some experienced guys like DJ Reader or Andrew Billings

I think we may draft one for me Kayden MacDonald (1st), Lee Hunter(2nd) & Deontay Corleone(3rd) are the top 3 depending where you take one

As i said for me the key to a good 3-4 defence is a strong powerful NT that can anchor the line

Lee Hunter should be available at 36

[Attyla]

Lee Hunter should be available at 36

The difference between Hunter and Darrell Johnson is not that great. I would consider that before I use the 2nd pick on Hunter. I like Hunter but I really like Johnson's value pick status.