4 defensive areas of focus for Las Vegas Raiders preseason opener

Las Vegas Raiders open the 2026 preseason at home against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, August 13, 2026. While most of Raider Nation wants to focus on the offense, let's actually take a look at some key spots on defense.

During the offseason, the Raiders made multiple defensive free-agent acquisitions and drafted more defensive players in April. On paper, this is one of the best defenses the Raiders have fielded in a long time. Maxx Crosby finally has some real star power and championship-caliber players around him. A front seven that looks absolutely ferocious. With a back end of speedy, physical cornerbacks and safeties.

The defensive coordinator

Leading these men and the holdovers from last season is first-year defensive coordinator Rob Leonard. Leonard got the promotion from run-game coordinator and defensive line coach. Leonard has previously worked under elite defensive minds such as Brian Flores, Tom Coughlin, Steve Spagnuolo, Patrick Graham and Mike MacDonald.

He's obviously not going to show his hand in game one of the preseason, but what we will see is what he emphasizes in fundamentals and mentality. The tenacity and edge he is trying to coax out of his players from the stars to the guys here for the summer.

Tonka Hemingway

Of all the additions made in the offseason, the defensive line was not one of them. Hemingway has been one of the talk of training camp thus far. When a player is applauded for gains made in the offseason, one can only be excited to see how it translates.

Hemingway has been hard to stop and harder to block. Causing many to wonder just how good he can be. It's one thing to have success against an offensive line on the rebound, but wreaking havoc on another team is a good barometer of where he's at.

The battle for the number 2 and nickel cornerback

In the offseason, the Raiders set out to completely overhaul their secondary. Re-signing Eric Stokes to be the number one corner and traded a sixth-round draft pick for former Pro Bowl nickel/slot corner Taron Johnson. It was only the beginning because John Spytek had just warmed up the stove and was beginning to cook.

Drafting cornerbacks Jermod McCoy in the fourth round and Hezekiah Masses in the fifth round has thus far given the Raiders a major shot in the arm. McCoy, when healthy, was considered a first-round-level talent. Masses has performed in training camp like a first-round-level talent.

A switch in defensive philosophy to bigger, stronger and faster corners plays into a man-coverage-dominant scheme. Darrien Porter, in his second year, may benefit greatly from this switch as well. Iron sharpens iron and competition is good for everyone. With CB 2 up for grabs and a shot at nickel on the line it will be fun to see who snatches it.

Treydan Stukes

In the second round, Raider Nation wanted a wide receiver to pair with Fernando Mendoza; instead, they got Stukes. When Stukes wasn't getting immediate first-team reps, some were ready to call it a waste of a pick. More prudent observers pointed out that being asked to watch from a broader vantage point was instructional.

As training camp has progressed, so has Stukes. He's getting some run with both the ones and twos and making quality plays in practice. He's got all the size and athleticism and he is gaining confidence and knowledge by the day. This first preseason action will give us an indication of where he is.

Health is wealth omissions

Linebacker has been a position not properly addressed with elite-level players for far too long. Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean are so good we should only be teased with a quick series to see them knock off the rust and get off the field healthy.

Maxx Crosby, we can imagine, is chomping at the bit and probably chewing it up like a racehorse in the blocks. Precisely why he shouldn't participate in the first meaningless preseason game of the year. While he is itching to hit someone other than his teammates, keeping his snaps down and maintaining his health is more important. Unpopular as that opinion may be, Crosby's health should be paramount to the team in more ways than one.

Ideally, the first-team defense won't play more than a series or two. Preferably, positions without battles going on get only the first series, and the positions with challengers get the second.