​The Las Vegas Raiders piled up 37 sacks during the 2025 season, tying for 20th in the league in that category. It’s a middle-of-the-road figure—not disastrous, but certainly not the breakout number new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard will be hoping to push higher in 2026. Leonard, of course, has an intimate understanding of this unit, having served as the Raiders’ defensive line coach last season before being elevated to the top defensive post by head coach Klint Kubiak.
To spark a stronger pass rush, the Raiders overhauled much of the front seven. They brought back Malcolm Koonce, but lines of reinforcement were drawn with Kwity Paye, Quay Walker, and Nakobe Dean stepping into prominent roles. The team also added Keyron Crawford through the draft, signaling their intent to bolster interior pressure and edge containment alike. These moves reflect a broader plan to create more disruptive opportunities up front, able to disrupt opposing quarterbacks more consistently and shorten the time to pressure.
Even with all the changes, one constant stands out: Maxx Crosby remains the Raiders’ premier pass rusher. Crosby, who logged 10 sacks despite appearing in only 15 games last season, is still the player to beat in terms of rushing the passer. He has led Las Vegas in sacks in four straight seasons, and the franchise has come to rely on his relentless motor and knack for getting to the quarterback. The broader hope is that Crosby will again anchor the club’s sack totals while the rest of the front seven finds its rhythm and contribute more consistently.
The question that Raiders fans and analysts will be watching in 2026 is how the new-look front seven translates into a higher sack total and more frequent quarterback hits. Paye and Crawford are the most direct routes to increasing pressure from the outside and interior lines, respectively, but the success of these additions will hinge on the synergy across the unit and the defensive scheme implemented by Leonard. In a league that increasingly prioritizes pressure variants and rapid disruption, the Raiders’ adjustments to their front seven aim to create more second-and-long situations, force quicker decisions from opposing quarterbacks, and reduce the time the play develops.
Leonard’s role as coordinator will be tested by the weight of expectations placed on him to guide a more imposing pass rush. The 2026 season presents a clear opportunity: unleash the potential of a reshaped front to complement Crosby’s steady production and improve overall defensive outcomes. If the defensive line can pair disciplined run defense with consistent pressure, the Raiders could see a notable uptick in sack numbers and a reinforced ability to control games from the line of scrimmage.
This overview synthesizes the current trajectory for the Raiders’ pass rush as they move toward the 2026 campaign. While Crosby remains the focal point and the most reliable source of sacks, the new entrants and the continued development of the revamped front seven will determine how quickly the unit can ascend from an average 2025 performance to a more disruptive and consistently productive pass rush in the coming season.