The Las Vegas Raiders have strategically reshaped their roster with key acquisitions and the retention of valuable players, including quarterback Geno Smith, guard Alex Cappa, edge rusher Malcolm Koonce, safety Jeremy Chinn, and cornerback Eric Stokes.
The Raiders’ most impactful move was undoubtedly the acquisition of Geno Smith. Without this trade, their offseason would have received a more moderate assessment.
While they made commendable decisions, such as extending Maxx Crosby’s contract, securing Malcolm Koonce on a one-year deal, and taking calculated risks on Jeremy Chinn and linebacker Elandon Roberts, they also experienced significant defensive losses, including linebacker Robert Spillane, cornerback Nate Hobbs, and safety Tre’von Moehrig.
Las Vegas Raiders’ Defensive Depth Losses Will Strain Team In 2025
It is those latter losses that most concern ESPN’s NFL Expert Analyst, Ben Solak;
“The amount of defensive snaps lost. I can talk myself into a lot of the Raiders’ defensive personnel shifts in a vacuum,” writes Solak. “I like Roberts as a cheap replacement for Spillane. Moehrig is a solid player, but they didn’t need to pay him $17 million per year like the Panthers will. The light bulb might be coming on for Chinn. It’s the total weight of the lost snaps that worries me.”
The departures of linebacker Robert Spillane, cornerback Nate Hobbs, safety Tre’von Moehrig, pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, and linebacker Divine Deablo collectively represent a loss of 3,949 defensive snaps from the previous season.
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Adding to this, the exit of safety Marcus Epps, who missed a significant portion of the 2024 season due to injury, accounts for another 1,031 lost snaps from 2023.
Such a considerable depletion of defensive experience poses a significant challenge to maintaining the unit’s effectiveness. Even with strategic acquisitions and successful draft selections to compensate for these losses, the sheer volume of new faces inevitably introduces complications.
The influx of new players increases the likelihood of communication breakdowns and heightened uncertainty within the defensive scheme. This transition period requires careful management to ensure the defense can operate cohesively and effectively.