Raiders Defense Under the Microscope | Las Vegas Raiders News

The Raiders’ 2026 season opener against the Dolphins is a high-stakes test for their revamped defense, especially with De’Von Achane’s explosive running ability. New linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker bring talent but question marks—Dean’s injury history and Walker’s inconsistent PFF grades. Despite last year’s strong run defense, PFF now ranks their LB corps near the bottom. The interior line, led by returning Adam Butler and rookie Tonka Hemingway (who showed sack potential but struggled in run defense), could be the key to stopping Achane. This game will reveal whether Las Vegas’ offseason upgrades translate into real defensive improvement—or if they’re just adding more moving parts to an uncertain equation. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f193d19638041ab1