Coming into the season, the Las Vegas Raiders knew to make real improvements on defense, they would need to become a better pass rushing unit.
The Raiders were not an effective team getting after the quarterback in 2022, ranking last in the AFC and third-lowest in the NFL in sacks with just 27. They did not get much production out of their pass rushers beyond Maxx Crosby.
This year, the Raiders have 40 sacks, which ranks in the top 10 in the NFL. While Crosby is having another excellent season, the players around him are also stepping up and producing.
This was one of the main focuses of the Raiders’ defense coming into 2023. The Raiders needed their ancillary pass rushers to help Crosby get to the quarterback.
It has been evident when watching the Raiders play defense this season. There is a Raiders edge rusher in the backfield seemingly every play, whether it’s Crosby, third-year man Malcolm Koonce, or 2023 NFL Draft first-round selection Tyree Wilson. The Raiders’ interior linemen, including John Jenkins and Adam Butler, have also effectively rushed the passer.
The Raiders have been looking for a player to step up opposite Crosby for a few seasons, and Koonce has emerged as that player in 2023. Koonce is having the best season of his career in his third season in the league with 38 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, and seven sacks.
Wilson got off to a slow start to his career but has since rounded into form as his health has improved. Wilson now has two and a half sacks and a forced fumble.
The Raiders are trying to make a late-season push for the playoffs, and if they want to be a factor in the AFC Wild Card, they have to be able to pressure the quarterback. The best defenses in the league feature multiple capable pass rushers, and the Raiders’ defensive line has featured those in 2023.
Not only do the Raiders have several effective pass rushers, but those pass rushers are also young and are still developing as players, so their ceilings are high. Crosby could have races to the quarterback with his teammates for years to come.
Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham and Interim Coach Antonio Pierce have turned the Raiders from an ineffective pass-rushing unit to a top-half unit in the league. They have done it at the right time, too, as the Raiders are a team with playoff aspirations.
