The Las Vegas Raiders have young, inexperienced players in key spots. In some cases, it could be a positive due to the upside, though the depth chart also raises significant question marks, specifically on the defensive side of the ball.
Under new head coach Pete Carroll, the Raiders turned over nearly their entire secondary except for safety Isaiah Pola-Mao, who has just 14 career starts.
Jeremy Chinn is the team’s most experienced defensive starter in the secondary. Eric Stokes has missed 22 games over the last three years as a part-time starting cornerback. Everywhere else on the back end, Las Vegas is banking on significant development.
The Raiders are mostly set within the front seven, but their decision to release Christian Wilkins creates opportunities for several upstart defensive tackles to assume major roles.
Looking at the team’s depth chart, here are three of the biggest roster questions ahead of the 2025 season.
Who’s Going to Fill Void at Defensive Tackle?
NFL: Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Late in July, the Raiders released Wilkins. He only played five games with the team, so it’s not a massive loss in terms of field time, but someone must fill the spot alongside Adam Butler.
In Wilkins’ absence last season, Jonah Laulu saw significant action, playing 43% of the defensive snaps in 17 games, including seven starts. He logged 35 tackles, three for loss, five pressures and a sack.
This year, Laulu will face more competition in the rotation. Las Vegas selected Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively. The club also signed Leki Fotu and acquired Thomas Booker IV in exchange for Jakorian Bennett.
Expect the coaching staff to mix and match defensive tackles based on down and distance, though Butler should lead the group in snaps due to his pass-rushing ability. He’s registered five sacks in back-to-back campaigns.
Hemingway, Pegues and Booker all flashed in the preseason. The Raiders will need to see consistency from one of these defensive tackles to solidify the interior of their front line.
Is Safety Chris Smith II Ready for Expanded Role?
NFL: Las Vegas Raiders Training Camp
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Las Vegas has four safeties on the 53-man roster and three reserves on the practice squad, counting JT Woods, who previously played the position with the Los Angeles Chargers but lined up at cornerback during training camp.
Pola-Mao will likely play the most snaps at safety. Chinn will see considerable action in the slot. That leaves Chris Smith II primed to take on a lead role when the team fields five defensive backs.
At 5-foot-10, 197 pounds, Smith doesn’t fit the prototypical mold of Carroll’s defensive backs, but he had a strong showing through the offseason. The third-year pro has played just 33 career defensive snaps.
Carroll has repeatedly said he’s not afraid to play inexperienced guys in big spots. Until Lonnie Johnson Jr. recovers from a broken fibula, Smith has a chance to prove himself in a part-time starting position in the Raiders’ nickel defense.
How Will Raiders Rotate Cornerbacks Opposite Stokes?
NFL: Las Vegas Raiders at Arizona Cardinals
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
On Thursday, Carroll ended his press conference with an intriguing revelation about his plan at cornerback.
“Stokes has done a really good, solid job of jumping in and owning his spot,” Carroll said.
“We’ve got really good competition over there on the other side. We’ll see how that works out by the end of the week. We’ll keep it going. A number of guys will play in the game. A number of guys will be rolling through there.”
On the boundary, Stokes will lead the group, but the Raiders have yet to decide who starts opposite him. The team’s competition for the No. 2 cornerback spot will extend into the regular season.
In Week 1 against the New England Patriots, Las Vegas’ cornerbacks will match up against a below-average wide receiver group. Stefon Diggs is coming off a torn ACL, and none of the other Patriots receivers racked up more than 621 receiving yards last season.
Carroll will give rookie third-rounder Darien Porter, Decamerion Richardson and Kyu Blu Kelly live tryouts for the second starting spot against a pass-catching group that’s also figuring itself out. One of the Raiders’ cornerbacks could gain a confidence boost in this favorable matchup.
Maurice Moton covers the Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at@MoeMoton.
avatar
Maurice Moton is our Sr. NFL columnist and co-host of Silver and Black Tonight on Southern California's The Mightier ... More about Moe Moton