Raiders Strengthen Defense With Key Position Changes Ahead of 2026

WHO:

Raiders.com - Maxx Crosby stated, "This has been a long road to recovery," regarding his knee injury rehabilitation.

Raiders.com - Malcolm Koonce re-signed with the Raiders for his sixth season after originally being selected by the club in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Raiders.com - Kwity Paye stated, "Playing opposite of Maxx is going to be great," after signing with the Raiders.

Raiders.com - Benito Jones, a 6-foot-1, 335-pound defensive lineman, was signed in May.

Raiders.com - Malcolm Koonce stated, "I think that the main focus for me is just the team being competitive and trying to win games."

Raiders.com - Maxx Crosby stated, "This has been a long road to recovery," regarding his knee injury rehabilitation.

Raiders.com - Malcolm Koonce said, "I think this year for me, I'm not really focused on personal goals," emphasizing team competitiveness.

Raiders.com - Kwity Paye stated, "I'm athletic enough to play anywhere on the line," after signing with the Raiders.

Raiders.com - Malcolm Koonce re-signed with the Raiders for his sixth season.

Raiders.com - Kwity Paye, a 2021 first-round pick out of Michigan, signed with the Raiders.

Raiders.com - Benito Jones, a defensive lineman, signed with the Raiders.

Raiders.com - Maxx Crosby, a defensive end for the Raiders.

Raiders.com - Malcolm Koonce, a defensive end who re-signed with the Raiders.

Raiders.com - Keyron Crawford, a third-round draft pick from Auburn.

Raiders.com - Brandon Cleveland, a seventh-round draft pick from NC State.

Rams.com - Tim Keenan III, a rookie defensive lineman selected 232nd overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Rams.com - Ty Simpson, a quarterback and Keenan's former teammate at Alabama.

WHAT:

Raiders.com - Maxx Crosby led the team in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (28) for five consecutive seasons.

Raiders.com - The Raiders signed undrafted free agents Gary Smith III from UCLA and Cian Slone from NC State after the draft.

Raiders.com - The interior defensive line rotation included Jonah Laulu, Adam Butler, and Thomas Booker IV, who collectively accounted for five sacks, 10 pass deflections, and 27 quarterback pressures.

Raiders.com - Kwity Paye finished with a 27 percent run stop win rate in 2025, ranking 10th among edge rushers.

Raiders.com - The Raiders selected Keyron Crawford in the third round and Brandon Cleveland in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Raiders.com - Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues appeared in nine games during the 2025 season.

Raiders.com - Maxx Crosby's six pass deflections were tied for the team high in 2025, and he led the league in run stop win rate among edge rushers.

Raiders.com - Kwity Paye recorded 50 quarterback hits in his career.

Raiders.com - Keyron Crawford amassed 11.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss at Arkansas State and Auburn.

Raiders.com - Brandon Cleveland finished with over 100 total tackles and 16 tackles for loss with NC State.

Raiders.com - Maxx Crosby's six pass deflections were tied for the team high in 2025.

Raiders.com - Tonka Hemingway racked up four sacks and a fumble recovery in limited action during 2025.

Raiders.com - The Raiders signed Kwity Paye, who has 30.5 career sacks and a 27 percent run stop win rate in 2025.

Raiders.com - Benito Jones has 38 career starts and totaled 83 tackles and 10 tackles for loss over five seasons.

Raiders.com - Maxx Crosby led the Raiders in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (28) for five consecutive seasons.

Raiders.com - Crosby's 28 tackles for loss ranked second in the league behind Myles Garrett.

Raiders.com - Malcolm Koonce returned to the field in 2025 after a major knee injury and recorded 4.5 sacks.

Rams.com - The Rams added cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson from the Chiefs to their roster.

Rams.com - Tim Keenan III was known for his ability to stop the run and had a significant impact in a College Football Playoff game.

WHERE:

Raiders.com - The Raiders are based in Las Vegas.

Rams.com - The Rams are based in Los Angeles.

WHEN:

Texans.com - Training Camp presented by Xfinity opens August 1 at the Houston Methodist Training Center.

Rams.com - The Rams' training camp is scheduled for late July.

Raiders.com - The Raiders' training camp is upcoming.

Rams.com - The Rams' training camp is scheduled for late July.

WHY:

Raiders.com - The Raiders aimed to strengthen their defensive line through free agency and the draft.

Rams.com - The Rams overhauled their cornerback room to improve their defense.

HOW:

Rams.com - The Rams are establishing rotations and identity in their cornerback position through offseason training.

Raiders.com - The Raiders signed undrafted free agents Gary Smith III from UCLA and Cian Slone from NC State after the draft.

Raiders.com - The Raiders signed free agents and drafted players to enhance their defensive line.

Rams.com - The Rams are establishing rotations and identity in their cornerback position through offseason training.

Maxx Crosby shared his thoughts on his knee injury rehabilitation, stating, "This has been a long road to recovery," as he continues to lead the Raiders with impressive stats, including ten sacks and twenty-eight tackles for loss over five consecutive seasons. In addition, Malcolm Koonce has re-signed with the Raiders for his sixth season after being drafted in the third round back in 2021, while the team has also added undrafted free agents Gary Smith III from UCLA and Cian Slone from NC State. Looking ahead, training camp presented by Xfinity is set to open on August 1 at the Houston Methodist Training Center.