The Raiders have already spent the offseason trying to patch up a pass rush that needed help. They added Kwity Paye to work alongside Maxx Crosby, brought Malcolm Koonce back with hopes he can rediscover his 2023 form, and used a Round 3 pick on Keyron Crawford. Even after that, the edge group still looks thin enough that one injury or one disappointment could force the issue.
That is why Von Miller keeps popping up as a name to watch.
Miller is a free agent, and yes, it is still the same Von Miller who spent years tormenting the Silver and Black with the Broncos before later stops with the Rams and Commanders. He is 37 now, but he still turned in 9.0 sacks in the 2025 NFL season. He also made it clear he would be open to joining the Raiders during an appearance on The Rush With Maxx Crosby.
For a team that could use more depth and a little insurance, the fit is easy to see. Miller would not be asked to carry the load. He would be there to supplement a group that already includes Crosby, Paye and Koonce, with Crawford expected to back them up and UDFA Cian Slone next in line.
The film backs up the idea that Miller still has something left. His pass-rush game has slipped from elite to good, but it remains productive.
PFF credited him with 36 pressures last season on 289 pass-rushing snaps, a sign that he can still make plays without being overextended. At this stage, that matters.
He can come off the bench, stay fresh, and still affect the pocket.
The tape also shows the part of Miller’s game that has aged best: his mind. Against the Minnesota Vikings, he absorbs a chip block, then works upfield as Brian O'Neal slips.
Instead of forcing the issue, Miller breaks down blind and finishes the play with a sack on J.J. McCarthy on third down.
His bend is no longer what it was in his prime, but it still separates him from the average pass rusher. That showed up on his sack of Jaxson Dart against the New York Giants, when he engaged the right tackle, snapped into a classic rip move, and curved back to the quarterback.
And when he has needed to lean more on power, he has done that too. Against the Dallas Cowboys, Miller mixed speed and strength to help collapse the pocket. With pressure pushing Dak Prescott around, Miller slipped free from the tackle and finished with a shoestring sack.
The Raiders do not have to make this move, and John Spytek may decide against adding another older pass rusher during a rebuild. But Miller still looks like someone who could help in a limited role, and the film says he can still bring juice to a defense that needs it.
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The larger issue is what that approach says about the rest of the roster. Las Vegas is still sorting through health and personnel questions, including the status of Maxx Crosby as camp approaches, and the offense has its own moving parts to iron out around young talent and a line that needs to come together. If the Raiders are asking a veteran to steer the ship while a rookie waits his turn, the real challenge may be whether the rest of the team can give that arrangement a fair chance to work. [Read more 🡒]