We’re now four weeks into the season. That’s basically a quarter of the way through the NFL season. Thru those four games there are four Raiders defenders sitting among the NFL’s best in key areas.
LB Robert Spillane
Spillane has been on a tear this season. He has double digit tackles in every game, totaling 44 tackles in four games. That puts him third in the league in combined tackles. Here’s the top five:
Nick Cross — 47
EJ Speed — 47
Robert Spillane — 44
Zach Baun — 43
Logan Wilson — 43
CB Jack Jones
Few corners have been more stingy in coverage this season than Jones, who is fifth in the league in coverage DVOA over the first four weeks.
Top CB by Coverage DVOA Wk 1-4:
J Lewis DAL
C Benford BUF
K Gordon CHI
K Fulton LAC
J Jones LV
The Packer who will not be named
P Surtain DEN
G Williams ARI
K Moore IND
A Taylor NO— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) October 2, 2024
CB Jakorian Bennett
Bennett has been swatting down passes a lot this season. Several of them have been huge plays too. Last week he batted down a would-be first down throw midway through the 4th quarter with the Raiders clinging to a four-point lead. He also regularly sticks with receivers on deep routes to break up what would otherwise have been a long catch or even a touchdown.
In total he has five pass breakups in four games. Which is tied for sixth in the NFL. Here’s the company he keeps:
Paulson Adebo — 7
Brian Branch — 7
Denzel Ward — 7
Zyon McCollum — 6
Quinyon Mitchell — 6
Jakorian Bennett — 5
Michael Jackson — 5
Jaylen Watson — 5
DE Maxx Crosby
Even while being hobbled for one game and missing last week entirely, Crosby is still among the league leaders in tackles for loss. His five tackles for loss this season is tied for fifth.
