Enough is enough. On top of a third-quarter collapse Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders were absent in the run game once again.
After allowing 165 rushing yards in New England, the defense gave up 95 yards to Buffalo’s James Cook. Something has to change in the defensive tackle room.
When Vita Vea requested a trade, Raider Nation screamed for the front office to make a move. The franchise, however, decided that trading away draft capital was not an option. General manager John Spytek has invested multiple draft picks along the defensive line, yet none of those players is making a major impact so far.
The problems start with availability. Tonka Hemingway is injured, and J.J. Pegues has been a healthy scratch multiple times.
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A Competent Defensive Tackle Beats the Buffalo Bills
The Silver and Black not only failed to stop the run but also could not disrupt Josh Allen. That gave the Buffalo quarterback time to scramble and find open receivers after holding the ball far too long. The story remains the same in Las Vegas as it has been for years.
Maxx Crosby is effectively playing the defensive line by himself. Because of Allen’s dangerous running ability, Crosby was forced to keep the quarterback contained in the pocket. Yet even with Allen staying put, the interior defensive linemen generated no pressure. Plenty of games remain this season, but this defensive line cannot compete with playoff-contending teams.
Possible Defensive Tackle Trade Targets
No free agent options would drastically change the situation, so the Raiders need to trade for a proven defensive tackle on a struggling team. The Indianapolis Colts, for instance, sit at 2-4 after spending high draft capital on Sauce Gardner. DeForest Buckner is a game wrecker who could shift the tide for this defense.
Another option is the Philadelphia Eagles. With Jalen Hurts on injured reserve, their season could be a wash. Moro Ojomo finished last season with six sacks and played all 17 games. He is not a big name, but he would slot into a starting role immediately.
Maxx Crosby, “The Condor,” needs help, and the Raiders are not providing it. The painful home loss to Buffalo came down to a lack of interior pressure. It is time to add to the defensive tackle room.
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