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2024 Raiders Position Review: Defensive Line

Players on injured reserve

Players on Reserve/Future

The Las Vegas Raiders were 15th in the league in fewest passing yards allowed and produced 18 sacks in their last six games of the season. This could be considered an impressive feat with three of their four starting defensive linemen at the beginning of the year ultimately ending up on the injured reserve list by the end.

Malcolm Koonce sustained a season-ending knee injury shortly before the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. Based on how things were going for him in training camp, he was on par to build upon his eight-sack season in 2023.

Maxx Crosby suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, a game in which he won his fifth career AFC Defensive Player of the Week award with five solo tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. While he tried to play through the season still nursing the injury, he re-aggravated it in Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, forcing him be sidelined the last four games. Despite missing five games total, he finished the season as the Raiders' leader in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (17) and quarterback hits (20) on his way to a fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection.

Christian Wilkins was the team's splash free agent signing, with high expectations for a explosive pass rushing tandem next to Crosby. This went according to plan to start the season as the defensive tackle totaled two sacks and seven quarterback pressures in his first five games in the Silver and Black. However, a foot injury suffered against the Denver Broncos forced him out for the remainder of the year.

With the trio of Crosby, Wilkins and Koonce out, an influx of linemen stepped up in their place. K'Lavon Chaisson signed to the team's practice squad in Week 2 after spending his first four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars as their 2020 first-round pick. He later signed to the active roster in October and played in 15 games, setting career highs in sacks (five) and tackles for loss (seven). Tyree Wilson, the Raiders' 2023 first-round pick, contributed 4.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits.

Defensive tackles Adam Butler, John Jenkins and rookie Jonah Laulu were the only three defensive linemen to play all 17 games, with Jenkins being the only one of those three to start all 17. Butler tied with Chassion for the second-most sacks on the team (5). Laulu, who was picked up off waivers after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, earned a lot of reps in the second half of the season, notching three pass deflections and three tackles for loss.

Janarius Robinson, Charles Snowden, Zach Carter and Andre Carter II carved out rotational roles for themselves throughout the year – combining for 3.5 sacks between them. Matthew Butler served time flipping between the active roster and practice squad, appearing in seven games.

David Agoha, Tyler Manoa and Ovie Oghoufo signed reserve/future contracts with the team this January. Agoha, from the NFL International Pathway Program, has spent the last two seasons on the Raiders practice squad.

Check out the Raiders' best pregame fits from the 2024 season.

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