Raiders defensive line looks to prove itself after release of Christian Wilkins

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Christian Wilkins' expected impact on the Raiders' defensive line was in question long before he was shockingly released last week, which if nothing else provided clarity on what kind of front Las Vegas can take into the season.

Jonah Laulu has showed some promise he could take over Wilkins' spot at tackle next to Adam Butler, who comes off a career season. Maxx Crosby is an elite edge rusher, and Malcolm Koonce on the other side has shown the ability to disrupt opposing passing games.

Not that replacing one of the game's top interior linemen will be simple, but the Raiders might be able to absorb such a change reasonably well.

“We’re not necessarily the biggest group, but across the board everybody moves really well,” coach Pete Carroll said. "So we’re going to play to that. ... That’s a real competitive group, and that’s going to take us all camp. It’s going to take us through the games and all of that to figure that out. There’s no rush.

"But it’s a good spot because there’s enough guys that have something to show you, so we just got to give them the right opportunities and see if we can draw out the best in them.”

Crosby is the group's star, and in practice he has resembled the player who in 2022 and 2023 had 27 sacks and 45 tackles for loss. He played through injury last season in totaling 7 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for loss over 12 games before finally being shut down to undergo ankle surgery.

At the other end, Koonce missed the entire season because of a torn ACL. It was a major setback to a player trying to build on a 2023 season in which had six sacks over the final four games. The Raiders signed him to a one-year, $12 million prove-it contract this season.

“We’re counting on Malcolm to be a big factor,” Carroll said. “He’s really athletic and he’s really natural player, and he’s got good instincts.”

Butler and Laulu occupy the two inside spots.

The Raiders have a known quantity in Butler, an eight-year veteran coming off back-to-back seasons in which he had five sacks each season. He was especially effective last season, starting a career-high 16 games. Butler didn't start any games in 2023, though he played in all 17.

“You only got one chance to do this,” Butler said. "I don’t get to do my career over again. I changed my attitude, changed my approach to the game, and I just decided that I wasn’t going to be just a third down player anymore. I decided that I am a starter. I’m going to prove myself in this league, and anybody that says I’m not, I’m going to do everything in my power to shut them up.”

Laulu takes on the burden of being the player expected to step in for Wilkins. The second-year pro played in all 17 games last season, starting seven after Wilkins broke his foot in Week 5.

Though Laulu had just three tackles for loss and one sack, he has used the extra snaps in practice this year to make a case for a bigger role, something Carroll said hasn't gone unnoticed.

“Coming in late to training camp, I came here the week before we played Week 1 and was just trying to learn the plays,” Laulu said. "I was trying to learn our philosophy on the defense, how we operate, and how do we attack offenses.

“Being able to now transition to this year where I’m still under the same coaches on defense and being able to stack on top of last year, I’m very comfortable in the defense, even though we changed some things.”

By not holding out, left tackle Kolton Miller doesn't have any catching up to do in training camp after signing a three-year, $66 million extension Wednesday, including $42.5 million guaranteed.

“Each day is an opportunity, and I feel like if you’re not in it, you’re taking a step back and it’s really not helping you,” Miller said. "So I’m glad this all worked out, and I wouldn’t want to do it any other way.”

2024 second-round draft pick Jackson Powers-Johnson came out of minicamp as the expected starting center, but shared the position with third-year pro Jordan Meredith in camp. That is until Thursday when Meredith lined up at center and Powers-Johnson at right guard. ... Jakorian Bennett started seven games at cornerback last season before going out with a shoulder injury, but has mostly been running with the second and third teams. Bennett pointed to not starting in high school until his senior season, going to a junior college and then to Maryland. “I always feel like the underdog," Bennett said. "Not saying I’m an underdog right now, but I always had to get out the mud, and that’s nothing I shy away from.”

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