Raiders Defensive Line Has Lots To Prove in 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to make a big step forward in 2026 after selecting Fernando Mendoza with the top pick in the NFL Draft. The roster heading into offseason training activities is set, with the offense becoming the most intriguing aspect of the team.
Intriguing is a new word in the Raiders' vocabulary as they have gone from being a franchise with little direction to one with a clear sense of what they want to accomplish under head coach Klint Kubiak and general manager John Spytek. Everything from the Mendoza-Kirk Cousins debate to how the run game evolves under Kubiak will be heavily discussed.
However, one of the more intriguing things Las Vegas didn't do was address the interior defensive line early, waiting until the seventh round to select Brandon Cleveland. It's giving Raider Nation something to ponder as to why they didn't address the area, which makes this unit one with much to prove in 2026.
Talent Intrigue Suggests Trust in the Current Defensive Line Structure
Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard takes over the role after spending the past handful of years as a position coach on defense or the defensive run game coordinator. Leonard also has experience coaching under Mike McDonald from his days in Baltimore, which suggests a uniquely structured front for the Raiders. The lack of major additions upfront suggests Leonard believes in this current group, signaling continuity and trust at the position.
Top undrafted free agent from last season, Jonah Laulu, along with Thomas Booker and Adam Butler, are the expected starters heading into training activities and camp this summer. Tonka Hemingway, J.J. Pegues, Brodric Martin, and Cleveland offer the Raiders depth in the interior, and it's a group that could stabilize as Laulu progresses into a disruptive player. The fact that Spytek didn't make significant additions to this group is telling in the trust of this group's current structure.
Despite Intrigue, the Raiders Still Need To Answer Questions Up Front
At full strength, at their best, the Raiders' defensive line is an average unit. There are consistency concerns around this group from last season, and it all seems to come down to whether Laulu becomes a terrific player this upcoming campaign.
I'm not particularly a fan of this defensive line with the lack of high-end talents, but sometimes you have to instill confidence in the brain trust, like Spytek and Leonard, to put this unit and its players in a position to thrive.
If the Raiders' depth can continue to provide a steady rotation at defensive tackle, and Leonard's coaching makes it a viable group, this would quickly become the best-case scenario for Las Vegas at interior defensive tackle. However, that is a big "if" ahead of OTAs.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/raiders/onsi as Raiders Defensive Line Has Lots To Prove in 2026.
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This story was originally published May 10, 2026 at 4:00 AM.