Predicting the Raiders' Defensive Stat Leaders

That would make the Raiders about an average to below-average defense, but if the talent they added in free agency and will continue to add in the 2026 NFL Draft pans out, this team should jump into the top half of defensive units in the league.

But instead of looking at calculations or advanced stats, let's boil things down to the basics. Today, let's break down who the Raiders' categorical leaders will be in tackles, sacks, and interceptions.

Tackles - Linebacker Quay Walker

The Raiders wanted players who make plays around the football. That's exactly what Walker does. Walker is a tackling machine, posting triple-digit tackle numbers in each of his first four seasons. He posted a career-high 128 tackles in 2025, ranking 17th in the NFL.

While he is prone to coverage mistakes now and then, Walker is always around the football. New Defensive Coordinator Rob Leonard will want to get the most out of the former first-round pick this season and help him realize his potential.

Sacks - Defensive End Maxx Crosby

This one would have been much more difficult to determine, had the trade to the Baltimore Ravens gone through. Crosby has led the Raiders in sacks in six of his seven seasons in the Silver and Black (Yannick Ngakoue had 10 in 2021, Crosby had 8).

He has constantly gotten after the quarterback and finished plays, and if he has a healthy season, that will happen again. It's hard to see anybody else leading the team in sacks as long as Crosby is on the field for a majority of the season. He will look to climb the franchise's all-time sack leaderboard if he can stay on the field.

Interceptions - Linebacker Nakobe Dean

With so many questions about the Raiders' secondary, it makes more sense that a linebacker with good coverage skills would lead the team in interceptions. Dean has one interception in his career, coming in 2024 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He should be able to make more plays on the football in his role with Las Vegas. This very well could be a secondary player, but there aren't too many ball-hawks back there right now. That may change if the team finds someone in the draft.