Rob Leonard and the Las Vegas Raiders are starting to get a good return from two defensive linemen at training camp
The Las Vegas Raiders have a decent defensive line, but guys like Tonka Hemingway and Jonah Laulu need to step up.
The Las Vegas Raiders are coming into this season with an improved roster. They have nearly every position group improved in some sort of way. However, on position groups like the defensive line, they still need massive help. Players are going to have to step up in 2026. Two seem to be so far.
Thomas Booker reveals two players on the defensive line who are standing out
“Tonka [Hemingway] and Jonah [Laulu] have been hooping for real. Tonka specifically, I think just with the pass rush and the fluidity of his movement, he’s a different kind of mover anyway. You look at it, and you can tell that he was a multi-sport athlete. He played basketball, he played baseball, all the rest of it, and you can see it kind of transition into football.
“He never looks like he’s out of sorts. I think with Jonah, with the pass rush and the physicality. Jonah’s got a frame. He’s about 6’5, 6’6, 300-plus pounds, and you’re starting to see him use all the length and the power that he’s got. It’s great seeing both those guys progress in the room, and we’ve got so many young guys that are making strides every day.”
The defensive line is shifting to a 3-4 formation under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard. This means they will be in more situations where a nose tackle is necessary. So, the defense is going to need to play better up front, especially in the run game. However, they don’t have all the necessary pieces to play the 3-4 all the time. So, as we said, there are players who have to step up. And there’s a ton of guys who have an opportunity to step up.
Hemingway is going into his second season. In nine games last season, he had four sacks, nine tackles, and five tackles for loss. That’s pretty solid given he was a Day 3 pick in the draft and didn’t play much until the end of the season. As for Laulu, his story is great. The Raiders signed him after the Colts waived him. He ends up coming on as a starter and has a stellar season. Now, he’s a starting defensive tackle for the Raiders. They have some good guys, but someone has to step up. It’s good to know these two are continuing to do that.
