Las Vegas Raiders offseason update (June 2025): Maxx Crosby embraces a new era while Christian Wilkins' injury status creates a $110M question mark. Can the Raiders' defense thrive?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
One defensive lineman is preaching the gospel of a new era, while the other is a $110 million question mark. As the Las Vegas Raiders wrap up their offseason program, the story of their defense is one of exciting transformation under coach Pete Carroll, led by the relentless Maxx Crosby. But a cloud of uncertainty looms in the form of Christian Wilkins' prolonged injury recovery, creating a tense duality that will define the team's outlook heading into training camp.
We’re building something special here. The energy is different, and everyone is buying in.
Fresh off signing a massive three-year, $106.5 million extension, Maxx Crosby is embracing his role as the face and voice of the franchise. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, 'The Condor' was effusive about the cultural shift under Pete Carroll, emphasizing a renewed focus on accountability. Crosby's words carry the weight of a player who not only performs at an elite level but is now paid like one of the best defenders in the entire league. His message is clear: the Raiders are done with mediocrity, and he's leading the charge to ensure the new standards stick.
While Crosby sets the tone, the team's other marquee defensive lineman remains sidelined. Christian Wilkins, the prize of last year's free agency class with a four-year, $110 million contract, has yet to participate in team drills since May due to a Jones fracture. After Wilkins missed all of mandatory minicamp, Coach Carroll described the rehab as 'long and challenging,' leaving his status for training camp very much in doubt. Adam Butler and Leki Fotu have been filling in, but replacing the disruptive force Wilkins was signed to be is a monumental task. His absence is the single biggest concern for a defense that has pinned its hopes on a dominant interior presence.
The new coaching regime's impact isn't just about the superstars. Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao has reportedly flourished under Carroll, emerging as a key leader and playmaker in the secondary during offseason workouts. His development is a massive boost for a unit desperate for improvement. Pola-Mao's rise exemplifies the kind of internal growth the team needs. Still, the front office isn't sitting idle. Reports from ESPN continue to link the Raiders to high-profile free agents at linebacker and safety, signaling that while they're happy with emerging leaders, they are still aggressively looking to add talent and competition before camp begins.
As the Raiders break before training camp, the narrative is set. The defense has a new identity, a vocal leader in Maxx Crosby, and emerging playmakers like Isaiah Pola-Mao. But all eyes will be on the health of Christian Wilkins. His presence is the linchpin that could elevate this unit from good to dominant. The optimism is palpable, but it's an optimism holding its breath, waiting for one very expensive question to be answered.
