​The Las Vegas Raiders recorded a mere eight interceptions during the 2025 season, tying for the sixth-fewest in the league with the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders. Among the teams with fewer interceptions was the New York Jets, who famously posted a season with zero picks. In 2025, only five Raiders defenders recorded interceptions, with cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly leading the group with three picks. Kelly’s promising performance was cut short by a severe season-ending injury, and his contract with the Raiders expired this offseason, leaving the team without his services and ensuring a new interceptions leader will emerge in 2026.
Heading into the 2026 season, safeties Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jeremy Chinn are set to reprise their roles as the starting safeties. Pola-Mao contributed two interceptions in 2025, while Chinn did not record any. At cornerback, Eric Stokes is back with the Raiders after re-signing, and the club is hopeful for a developmental leap from sophomore Darien Porter, who is the favorite to start opposite Stokes. Rookie Jermod McCoy will also push for playing time and has the potential to contribute as he adjusts to the NFL game. The Raiders added veteran nickel Taron Johnson via trade, and he could contend for reps in the slot with rookie Treydan Stukes.
In terms of history, the Raiders don’t boast a long list of players with extensive interception resumes. Pola-Mao and Chinn each own three career interceptions, Stokes has one, and Johnson brings six interceptions across eight NFL seasons. If Stukes earns meaningful reps as a rookie, he could emerge as a dark-horse candidate to lead the team in interceptions. He exploded onto the scene with four interceptions in his final collegiate season for the Arizona Wildcats and departed college with seven career picks. If Stukes translates his ball-hawking instincts to the professional level, he could become a surprising leader in takeaways for Las Vegas in 2026.
This assessment reflects a broader look at the Raiders’ pass defense heading into 2026, with a focus on who might top the team’s interception charts and how new and developing players could shape the turnover landscape. The 2026 season will be a test of whether the Raiders can cultivate more takeaway opportunities, leverage their in-house talent, and maximize the potential of newcomers and young players stepping into larger roles. This rewrite is drawn from the Raiders Wire piece exploring who is most likely to lead Las Vegas in interceptions in 2026.