Rob Leonard’s defense has to improve in this area

Las Vegas Raiders defensive line coach Rob Leonard holds on to a football during the team's practice at the Intermountain Health Performance Center on Sept. 19, 2025, in Henderson, Nevada. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

There are reasons to be encouraged about the Las Vegas Raiders' defense in 2026 as they transition from the Patrick Graham era to Rob Leonard as defensive coordinator.

Not only is Leonard, who had been Las Vegas' defensive line coach, well respected and has a lot of fans in the building, he Raiders' loaded on defense in free agency, including adding linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker and they are keeping star defensive end Maxx Crosby.

So, yes, there is reason for optimism.

Yet, there are areas the unit needs to improve upon this season and that includes on third down and short. According to NFL analyst Warren Sharp, the Raiders allowed a first-down conversion in that situation 68 percent of the time. It was the ninth highest rate in the league. Here is the full list:

1st down conversion rate allowed by defenses on 3rd & short last year:

81% - IND
79% - BUF
78% - ARI
77% - NE
75% - DAL
71% - CAR
70% - NO
70% - CLE
68% - LV
67% - ATL
67% - MIN
67% - KC
66% - JAX
65% - TEN
65% - NYG
65% - CHI
63% - GB
63% - SF
62% - LAR
61% - PHI
57% - NYJ
57%...

- Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 10, 2026

So, this is definitely should for Leonard t focus on in his first season running the unit.

In other Raiders' news:

• Offseason grades: NFL.com offers offseason grades for all 32 teams thus far.
• Steals: SB Nation has the best draft steals of all-time.