The Raiders don’t need a perfect roster to matter in Week 1, but they do need to know exactly where their edge is. For Las Vegas, that edge sits right in the middle of the defense.
With the regular season about to begin against a Miami Dolphins team that is also bringing major coaching staff and roster changes into Week 1, the Raiders are close to being set. The depth chart is basically in place, the initial 53-man roster is formed, and the new staff now has a clear read on what it has across the board.
That matters because this roster still has some obvious soft spots, especially in the secondary. Las Vegas is leaning on a young, largely untested group of defensive backs, and that puts even more pressure on the rest of the defense to carry its weight.
The good news for the Raiders is that their interior defensive line looks like the unit best equipped to do exactly that. It may not be packed with household names, but on paper it stands out as the strength of the defense and one of the strongest parts of the roster overall.
Under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, the Raiders are operating in a different scheme than they’ve used in the past, which creates new demands throughout the defense. But the front inside remains the group that can help cover for some of the uncertainty behind it.
Over the past three seasons, Las Vegas has built up that part of the roster with players who bring different tools to the table. Now the Raiders are asking that group to do the heavy lifting: hold up against the run and generate steady pressure.
Tonka Hemingway has been one of the clearest winners of camp. The second-year defensive lineman has moved to the top of the depth chart along the interior, showing noticeable growth from his rookie year and an ability to affect the run game.
Raiders assistant general manager Brian Stark made it clear Hemingway’s work has stood out.
“I don't know if it changed my impression of him, but one of the players I'm most impressed with is probably Tonka Hemingway. A player that we drafted last year, tireless worker, very committed, had an excellent offseason, and has worked himself into a spot where he's got a chance to start,” Stark said.
“And he shows it every day, just like Spy [John Spytek] said; he shows up and earns it every day, and he continued that all offseason. So, I think Tonka is a good example of someone who kind of matched every expectation you kind of had for him and exceeded some."
That kind of rise is exactly why the Raiders should be careful with how they use their interior line once the games count. Hemingway looks poised for a big season, but Las Vegas needs that entire group to stay fresh over the long haul.
The safest move is to rotate heavily. Hemingway, Adam Butler, Thomas Booker, Jonah Laulu, Folorunso Fatukasi, and Leonard give the Raiders a serviceable collection of interior defenders, and that depth should be used as much as possible.
For a team that has dealt with injuries in recent seasons and has already absorbed one significant injury, protecting the front is not optional. The Raiders are counting on this group to help stabilize the defense, and Leonard’s staff is depending on that interior line to keep developing and keep producing.
In Other News...
Raiders Suddenly Have A Backfield Decision They Didn't Expect
Mike Washington Jr. has gone from a rookie camp curiosity to one of the more interesting developments in Raiders camp, and it happened quickly. The first-year running back has impressed enough in the preseason that general manager John Spytek singled him out as a perfect scheme fit, pointing to the way Washington has handled his opportunities and the efficiency he showed when games started counting toward evaluation.
The bigger wrinkle now is how the backfield gets sorted out while Ashton Jeanty deals with an ankle injury. Washington has been taking first-team snaps in practice, which suggests the Raiders are seriously weighing a larger role for him as they sort through a situation they may not have expected this soon. For a team trying to settle its running game, Washington's rise has turned a depth-chart question into one of the more intriguing decisions left on the table. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Leave The Door Open In A QB Battle Fans Cant Ignore
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Cousins still sits atop the depth chart as the starter, but the real intrigue is in how the backup spots have settled around him. Spytek pointed to Mendozas development and OConnells preseason showing as reasons the Raiders are comfortable carrying all three, and for now the message is simple: both reserves are prepared to step in if called upon, leaving the rest of the evaluation very much alive. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Already Face A Big Fernando Mendoza Protection Debate
The Raiders long-term offensive line plans are already getting attention, even with the 2027 NFL Draft still a ways off. Sports Illustrated recently projected Las Vegas taking Texas tackle Trevor Goosby with the No. 5 overall pick, a nod to how seriously the teams need to protect Fernando Mendoza is being viewed in the early draft conversation.
It is, of course, a speculative read rather than a forecast locked in stone, and plenty will change before Las Vegas is actually on the clock. The draft order will shift, Goosbys college season will shape his stock, and the Raiders own evaluation of Mendozas protection needs could look very different by then, but the idea of making the quarterback a priority up front is already driving the discussion. [Read more 🡒]