The Las Vegas Raiders, and new defensive coordinator, Rob Leonard are switching to a 3-4 system. If you’re wondering the role in which certain players will have for that system, an excellent breakdown is here by our own Ray Aspuria. The Raiders added to their defensive line with signing Kwity Paye, and retaining Malcolm Koonce to pair with Maxx Crosby after the Baltimore Ravens backed out of their trade with the Raiders early last week. The Raiders are going to run a versatile group of defensive fronts, and also generate good blitz packages with their unit, that said the Raiders will have a situation on their hands with their current unit and where they fit best. The Raiders defensive line is diverse, and they have rotated their units between techniques frequently, that should remain the same for the Raiders in 2026 if not increase.
NFL Techniques, Defensive Line:
Below is a graphic outlining NFL techniques, a key distinction for defensive lineman as a 5 tech and 1 tech may both be labeled as interior lineman, but are completely different players. A quick breakdown of each is below as well:
A Gap: Area between center and guard
B Gap: Area between guard and tackle
C Gap: Area between tackle and Tight End
D Gap: Area outside the TE inline
Man Control: Two Gapping lineman, play through certain offensive lineman. Usually utilized in a 3-4 front or 4-3 even, which the Raiders will be running a majority in 2026 and forward under Rob Leonard. This front usually contains a 0, 2, 4, 6, and depending on personnel a 7/9 technique in diverse packages. The package is traditionally used to be a run first approach, and often is paired with an attack front ideology.
Gap Control: Lineman responsible for stopping and holding a gap specific per play. Very common in 4 lineman fronts with spread lineman, and 5 down lineman as well. Often contains a 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 9 technique designated to specific strengths. More commonly found in the NFL currently with teams playing an RPO approach at times, requiring lineman to work better in space.
0 Tech: Head up on the Center (Vita Vea)
1 Tech: Outside Shoulder of the Center, to either side (DJ Reader)
2 Tech: Head Up on the Guard (Aaron Donald)
2i Tech: Inside Shoulder of the Guard, 2-Tech inside, responsible for A Gap (Aaron Donald)
3 Tech: Outside Shoulder of the Guard, to either side (Grady Jarrett)
4 Tech: Head Up on Offensive Tackle (DeForest Buckner)
4i Tech: Inside Shoulder of the Tackle. 4-Tech inside, responsible for B Gap must be able to work outside (DeForest Buckner)
5 Tech: Outside Shoulder of the Tackle, still within sub 1 yard of tackle (Myles Garrett)
6 Tech: Head Up on the TE (Myles Garrett)
7 Tech: Inside Shoulder of the TE (Maxx Crosby)
9 Tech: Outside Shoulder of the TE (Von Miller)
Maxx Crosby:
- 3 Tech: 38 snaps (0.006%)
- 5 Tech: 230 snaps (3.5%)
- 7 Tech: 5741 snaps (88.4%)
- 6 Tech: 500 snaps (7.7%)
- 9 Tech: 118 snaps (1.8%)
As noted, Crosby is the traditional 7 Tech. The switch to a 3-4 system, won’t change where the Raiders are going to align him. Crosby saw a career low snaps at 7-Tech in 2025, and a career high at 5 Tech, something I imagine doesn’t roll into 2026 with Rob Leonard now at defensive coordinator.
Kwity Paye:
- 3 Tech: 55 snaps (1.7%)
- 5 Tech: 84 snaps (2.6%)
- 7 Tech: 2566 snaps (78.4%)
- 6 Tech: 485 snaps (14.8%)
- 9 Tech: 150 snaps (4.6%)
Paye was mainly signed as the team’s replacement for Maxx Crosby, then Crosby returned, but the Raiders still honored their commitment to Paye and rightfully so. He’s an elite run defender at EDGE with the 13th ranked run stop win rate at EDGE since 2024, and has logged a career 123 run stops as well. Paye has been inconsistent as a pass rusher, though his time as a rotational player should benefit him. The Raiders likely will rotate him in and out with Crosby/Koonce to keep both fresh and get him on the field as well. Look for him to increase his time at 6-Tech as well under Rob Leonard and Travis Smith for Las Vegas.
Malcolm Koonce:
- 5 Tech: 36 snaps (3.2%)
- 7 Tech: 739 snaps (66.1%)
- 6 Tech: 60 snaps (5.4%)
- 9 Tech: 306 snaps (27.3%)
Koonce will maintain his role as a true 2-3 point pass rusher, which he’s done majority of his career. He’s unlikely to work any more inside than a 7 technique, and he shouldn’t given the size and power deficiency in his game. Koonce, just 6’3/245 does far better when able to convert speed to power and get into the rep using his speed, first step, and lower body flexibility allowing him to turn the corner. He improved as a run defender in 2025, but is still about league average. The bonus for Koonce is despite the slow start in 2025, he ended the year with four straight games of 5+ pressures and a win rate across the last seven games of 22.2%.
Tyree Wilson:
- 3 Tech: 53 snaps (3.6%)
- 4 Tech: 62 snaps (4.2%)
- 5 Tech: 284 snaps (19.2%)
- 7 Tech: 849 snaps (57.4%)
- 6 Tech: 100 snaps (6.8%)
- 9 Tech: 166 snaps (11.2%)
It’s pretty simple to think that Wilson will slide inside to a 5-Tech role or even more on the inside as a base end for the Raiders, given his size at 6’6/280 and his experience there. Despite that, I’d still expect Wilson to see a fair share of time working as a 7 and 5 with the defensive shift, something that will benefit his career greatly. Wilson doesn’t win with athleticism, he’s improved his hand technique skills, and has remained a strong run defender. Wilson has increased as time has gone on, and in 2025 was a career low at run defender, though he saw a career low in snaps at 7 tech also likely which limited his ability as he was asked to work in space more often, something he’s not beneficial at doing. I’d expect a decent season out of Wilson, though it’ll likely be the last for the Raiders 7th overall pick in 2023. Wilson is a quality depth pass rusher, and his versatility up front is intriguing as well for a team looking to run multiple fronts.
Charles Snowden:
- 7 Tech: 118 snaps (16.1%)
- 6 Tech: 156 snaps (21.2%)
- 9 Tech: 412 snaps (56.1%)
- WLB: 56 snaps (7.6%)
Snowden is likely to round out the Raiders depth chart at EDGE, though they could and likely will add an EDGE through the draft, while also having Brennan Jackson/Jahfari Harvey on the roster. Snowden is a traditional 2 point pass rusher outside the TE, though he’s shown some ability to slide inside but the lack of strength at point of attack, and his overall mass has limited how effective he can be closer to the offensive lineman. Snowden has been productive, does showcase coverage skills, and is going to be an intriguing piece for Las Vegas this season with how he’s used as a blitzer, or wide pass rusher.
Adam Butler:
- 0 Tech: 908 snaps (19.6%)
- 1 Tech: 301 snaps (9.2%)
- 2 Tech: 218 snaps (2.1%)
- 3 Tech: 2496 snaps (53.9%)
- 4 Tech: 689 snaps (14.9%)
- 5 Tech: 108 snaps (2.3%)
- 7 Tech: 11 snaps (.003%)
Butler, like many other Raiders, saw a career low at 3-Tech last season and an increase of playtime at 4-Tech. As such, he saw a career low in sacks, QB hits, pressures, and win rate which likely has more to do with his positional splits than his play or age even at 32 years old. Butler, can work as a 1-Tech and has been beneficial there for Las Vegas, playing his best football in 2024 when he saw a fair share of snaps at 1-Tech, though he also has the ability to play a true NT but hasn’t done so since 2019/2020 with the Patriots. Butler is the Raiders most versatile interior lineman, and he should get a fair share of playtime back at 3-Technique which will bring his production back to that of the 2023 and 2024 standard Raiders fans are used too where Butler posted back to back seasons of 30 pressures and 6 sacks.
Thomas Booker:
- 0 Tech: 12 snaps (1.2%)
- 1 Tech: 72 snaps (7.3%)
- 2 Tech: 320 snaps (31.5%)
- 3 Tech: 445 snaps (43.8%)
- 4 Tech: 166 snaps (16.8%)
Booker will likely see more snaps at 4 technique when the Raiders are in three downlineman on a traditional 3-4 front, but when they slide to nickel he’ll stay at 3-Tech as a rotational player. Booker wasn’t overly productive in 2025, but he showed good traits as a pass rusher with a 9% win rate, and also generated 7 created sacks the highest for a Raiders defensive tackle since Mo Hurst. Expect Booker to get worked more on the 4/4i realm than a true 2/3 technique at times due to his ability to work in space and play gap control.
Jonah Laulu:
- 0 Tech: 3 snaps (.003%)
- 1 Tech: 11 snaps (.009%)
- 2 Tech: 377 snaps (29.6%)
- 3 Tech: 305 snaps (23.9%)
- 4 Tech: 498 snaps(40.2%)
- 5 Tech: 81 snaps (6.5%)
Laulu has versatility, and his experience at 4-Tech is going to be something the Raiders live out of. While productive as a pass rusher, he wasn’t overly efficient with just a 4.2% win rate. Laulu is a diverse lineman, and he’s struggled at times in both run defense and pass rush but saw a massive uptick in playtime, production, and development during 2025. Laulu generated 25 pressures, 3 sacks, 6 QB hits, and 22 stops and should continue his development in 2026 as a versatile piece at both 3 and 4 technique for the Raiders. Laulu has spent time both at 2 and 3-Tech and should benefit from the switch to a base 3-4 getting the ability to utilize his power and ability to control a gap assignment.
Tonka Hemingway:
NFL | NCAA
- 0 Tech: 0 snaps | 20 snaps
- 1 Tech: 1 snap | 170 snaps
- 2 Tech: 26 snaps | 385 snaps
- 3 Tech: 55 snaps | 753 snaps
- 4 Tech: 91 snaps | 229 snaps
- 5 Tech: 25 snaps | 287 snaps
- 7 Tech: 0 snaps | 187 snaps
Hemingway benefits exceptionally from the Raiders moving to a 3-4 set, though he also fits a 4 man front well when Las Vegas is in nickel. The Raiders played him primarily at 4-Tech in 2025, something that will happen again in 2026, though he’s shown the ability to play 5 and 3 techniques as well, which Las Vegas will ask of him as the team plays multiple diverse fronts. Hemingway is a true athlete, works well moving in space, and should be able to have keyed up stunts and twists under Rob Leonard to open free rush lanes. The 6’3, 288-pound Hemingway played just 195 snaps in 2025 but logged 4 sacks, 5 TFL, 6 QB hits, a PBU, 11 pressures, 6 run stops, and 6.8% pass rush win rate. Hemingway did struggle at times in his run defense, getting pushed around though he’s largely struggled when aligned at 3-Tech and was out mased and not allowed to work in space similar to how he did in college at South Carolina. Expect a big season from Hemingway for the 2026 season, and the Raiders are clearly banking on him taking the next step.
JJ Pegues:
NFL | NCAA
- 0 Tech: 0 snaps | 412 snaps
- 1 Tech: 21 snaps | 24 snaps
- 2 Tech: 29 snaps | 476 snaps
- 3 Tech: 80 snaps | 405 snaps
- 4 Tech: 7 snaps | 221 snaps
- 5 Tech: 0 snaps | 66 snaps
- 7 Tech: 0 snaps | 17 snaps
Pegues logged 11 tackles, 2 TFL, and a fumble recovery in 137 snaps while also adding 2 pressures, 5 run stops, and a 22.8% run stop win rate. The Raiders are searching for a true nose tackle, and Pegues may fit that role after his time with Ole Miss where he logged nearly 30% of his time at nose. Pegues gained mass back to 325 pounds after spending his final season with the Rebels at 301 pounds and it’s clear Las Vegas likely wants to work him more as a nose this off-season into 2026. The 6th rounder does have some intriguing traits and is a good athlete for his size, but usually wins off pure strength, which will benefit him at nose, should the Raiders look to play him more often in that role. Additionally, Pegues has the experience working at both 2/3/0 evenly which lines him well with the 3-4 front as he’s able to play gap control with his strength and lower body power/anchor ability.
Brodric Martin:
- 0 Tech: 31 snaps
- 1 Tech: 6 snaps
- 2 Tech: 26 snaps
I won’t touch on Martin long, the former 3rd rounder by the Lions in 2023 is the traditional nose tackle at 6’5, 330-pounds. He’s seen very limited playtime in his career and it’s hard to see him finally breaking into the fold for 2025. However, Rob Leonard/Travis Smith have gotten development from their nose tackles with Andrew Billings and John Jenkins reviving their careers under both of them, which could signal well for Martin.
Treven Ma’ae
- 0 Tech: 32 snaps
- 1 Tech: 31 snaps
- 2 Tech: 218 snaps
- 3 Tech: 309 snaps
- 4 Tech: 309 snaps
- 5 Tech: 288 snaps
- 7 Tech: 188 snaps
- 6 Tech: 22 snaps
I wanted to touch on Ma’ae briefly, given his versatility on the defensive front. He split most of his time evenly between 2, 3, 4, and 5 technique something that will benefit him with a versatile defensive line that’s going to run a variety of fronts. Additionally, Ma’ae saw roughly 45% of his snaps at 4-Tech, and 23% at 2-Tech during pre-season for the Raiders in 2025, where he was 4th in the NFL among rookies in pass rush win rate, and 5th in run stop win rate. Ma’ae has the frame and athleticism for the Raiders diverse front at 6’3, 291 and is someone worth keeping an eye on during this off-season especially after bulking up from 274 pounds.
