New coach. New scheme. Same pressure.
And now the Las Vegas Raiders are flipping their defensive identity upside down.
The shift to a 3-4 base defense under Klint Kubiak and newly promoted defensive coordinator Rob Leonard isn’t just a cosmetic tweak. It’s a philosophical reset — one that could quietly reshape the futures of Maxx Crosby, Tyree Wilson, and nearly the entire front seven.
Raiders’ 3-4 Switch Changes Everything — But What Does It Mean for Maxx Crosby?
At the NFL Combine, Kubiak confirmed the Raiders will transition to a 3-4 base defense in 2026. While the previous regime under Patrick Graham used odd fronts situationally, this marks a full structural pivot.
Translation? Roles are changing. Responsibilities are shifting. And some players may thrive — while others face uncertainty.
Let’s start with the biggest name in the building.
Maxx Crosby: Not Going Anywhere — Because of the Scheme
Rumors about Crosby being traded have dominated the offseason. But the move to a 3-4 doesn’t automatically push him out the door.
Crosby has lined up outside offensive tackles on over 95% of his career snaps. In a 3-4, that role transitions into a stand-up outside linebacker rushing from a two-point stance instead of a three-point stance.
It’s an adjustment — but not a downgrade.
Crosby has the athleticism and versatility to adapt. He’s mixed in two-point stances before, and his explosiveness off the edge translates in any front. If he’s traded, it won’t be because of the scheme.
But if he stays? He’s still the defensive cornerstone.
Tyree Wilson: Finally in the Right Role?
The scheme shift may benefit Tyree Wilson the most.
Instead of living purely on the edge, Wilson is expected to move inside as a 4i-technique — lining up just inside the offensive tackle. That’s huge for him.
At Texas Tech, many believed Wilson’s strength and length projected better inside, where his power could shine and his lack of elite bend wouldn’t be as exposed. In a 3-4, that alignment maximizes his physical traits as a run defender and interior disruptor.
This could be the unlock season.
The 4i Revolution: Laulu and Hemingway Benefit
Jonah Laulu and 2025 fourth-round pick Tonka Hemingway both profile well as 4i-technique defenders — hybrid roles between traditional defensive end and tackle.
Laulu’s struggles with double teams as a lighter 3-tech could ease in five-man fronts designed to reduce combo blocks. Hemingway, once viewed as a positional tweener, suddenly looks tailor-made for this hybrid alignment.
The scheme may solve roster puzzles that once looked problematic.
Adam Butler and JJ Pegues: On the Bubble?
Adam Butler’s future is murkier. More of a traditional 3-tech build, he doesn’t cleanly fit the new alignment structure. With a dip in production and manageable cap implications, he could become a cap casualty or trade chip.
JJ Pegues presents a different challenge. Built like a nose tackle at 6-foot-2, 325 pounds, he fills a structural need in a 3-4 — but struggled holding up against double teams as a rookie.
And in a 3-4, the nose tackle is everything.
If Pegues can’t anchor the middle, the Raiders must draft or sign a true gap-eating presence.
Edge Depth Is Now Critical
Malcolm Koonce’s future is uncertain after injury concerns. Charles Snowden and Brennan Jackson offer depth but not star certainty.
If Crosby is moved? Las Vegas will need multiple edge additions.
Even if he stays? They likely need at least one more rotational pass rusher.
Draft targets such as Gabe Jacas, R Mason Thomas, and Derrick Moore could fit. Free agency names like Odafe Oweh or Jaelan Phillips would provide experience — though cost will matter.
The Real Impact: Identity
This isn’t just about alignments.
It’s about tone.
A 3-4 base signals versatility, disguise, and aggression. It demands interior discipline and edge flexibility. It forces offenses to diagnose post-snap rather than pre-snap.
Kubiak’s Raiders aren’t tweaking. They’re rebuilding the defensive blueprint.
The big question now:
Will Maxx Crosby be the centerpiece of this new era — or the trade asset that accelerates it?
Because in Las Vegas, the formation has changed.
And so has the future.
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