This season’s MVP, OPOY, DPOY, ROY, COPY
With the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2025 season in the books, it’s time for Silver and Black Pride’s annual awards, where each writer gives their take on who should be the Raiders’ MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year. While Tristen Kuhn has already handed out his awards, we’ll come to a consensus for the entire site with everyone’s input in this column.
MVP: Maxx Crosby
Ray Aspuria: Ashton Jeanty
Producing 975 yards rushing with 346 yards receiving and 10 total touchdowns in his rookie season, Jeanty was productive despite having Brennan Carroll orchestrating one of the worst offensive lines in all of the NFL this past season. Jeanty started all 17 games as Las Vegas’ bell cow back in a year where getting met and hit either at the line of scrimmage or behind it would break many a running back. At just 22 years old, the sky remains the limit for the Boise State product and a new offensive line boss who not only is keen to attention to details but will actually impart that onto his linemen can prove fruitful going forward.
Matt Holder: Maxx Crosby
There really shouldn’t be much debate here. In addition to Crosby recording his third double-digit sack campaign in the last four years and racking up a career-high 28 TFLs while making the Pro Bowl, he provided leadership and was the team’s heart and soul. He was invaluable for the Silver and Black this year.
Marcus Johnson: Ashton Jeanty
With the offense struggling, the only player who had a decent season was Jeanty. Even with the struggles from the offensive line, Jeanty was able to help in the receiving game, having 1,321 yards from scrimmage. Jeanty displayed that with an improved offensive line, he could become a top-five running back in the NFL
Tristen Kuhn: Maxx Croby
Crosby played 15 games, posting 53 pressures, 10 sacks, 20 QB Hits, 28 TFL, 6 PBU, 2 FF, and an interception while being named to the Pro Bowl. Crosby has been instrumental in the Raiders’ defensive performances, consistently logging production, effort, and notable game-wrecking plays versus the run, including this season, with opposing teams only rushing to his side of the field on just 8.7% of plays. Prior to his injury, Crosby was on pace to be one of just four players in NFL history to record 30+ TFL and 10+ sacks in a single season.
Bill Williamson: Maxx Crosby
Maxx Crosby never stopped trying. The Raiders were awful, and he kept coming. 28 tackles for loss in 15 games is stupid.
OPOY: Brock Bowers
RA: Brock Bowers
Despite a season cut short by a knee ailment, the second-year tight end provided marvelous moments this past season. Hauling in 64 passes for 680 yards, Bowers topped his rookie touchdown mark of 5 with 7 in 2025. His route running at his size and strong hands were ever present in the 12 games he played (eight starts). At just 23 years old, Bowers remains a centerpiece weapon for the Silver & Black. Like Jeanty, a new coaching staff can make the upward trend even more fantastic for the 6-foot-4, 235-pound tight end.
MH:Ashton Jeanty
Bowers is getting plenty of love here, and that makes sense because there was a clear difference in the passing game when he was on the field and 100 percent versus when he wasn’t. However, Jeanty played in all 17 games and led the team in yards from scrimmage (1,321) and touchdowns (10) by significant margins; 574 and three, respectively. Couple that with falling just 25 yards short of 1,000 yards on the ground while playing behind a terrible offensive line, and that’s OPOY-worthy.
MJ: Brock Bowers
Brock Bowers dealt with injuries all season but was able to have a career high in touchdown catches and make his second Pro-Bowl. Bowers was effective on the field, consistently a threat, and delivered a monster game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He will remain a staple for the Raiders going forward.
TK: Brock Bowers
Bowers, like Crosby, is the face of the Raiders franchise on offense and possibly the face of the franchise overall going forward. He played in just 12 games this season with a knee injury, where he posted 64 receptions, 680 yards, and a team-leading seven touchdowns. Additionally, Bowers went 14/22 on contested catches, ranking 4th among TEs in opportunities and seventh in success rate. Bowers also hauled in 296 of his 680 yards after the catch while forcing 11 forced missed tackles (sixth among tight ends) and having an average depth of target the highest of all NFL tight ends at 7.9 yards. Bowers has planted himself as an elite receiving tight end, hauling in 176 receptions, 1,874 yards, and 12 touchdowns in two seasons, with an impressive 34 contested catches on just 52 opportunities.
BW: Brock Bowers
It was too bad he got hurt so early in the year, and it’s too bad he had to play with that quarterback and coaching staff. Bowers’ numbers weren’t as staggering as his rookie year, but his overall play was just as impressive. Get him a quarterback and a coach and watch Bowers become an all-time great.
DPOY: Maxx Crosby
RA: Maxx Crosby
On stats alone, the pick would’ve been Devin White, no? Sarcasm aside, the 28-year-old defensive end was his usual havoc creator as Crosby finished with 10 sacks, 73 total tackles, and an impressive 28 tackles for loss in 2025. His season was cut short to just 15 games as he dealt with a knee ailment himself, but despite double and triple teams, Crosby still produced. Getting more production from the opposite edge and interior should alleviate some of the attention Crosby sees game days; however, a clean bill of health in 2026 means the Eastern Michigan product returns to form — again.
MH: Eric Stokes
I already voted for Crosby in the MVP section, and I’m trying not to double up on players. Plus, Stokes was one of the Raiders’ few pleasant surprises this season. He went from being cast away by the Green Bay Packers and signing just a one-year, $3.5 million contract in free agency, to becoming Las Vegas’ second-highest graded defensive player (73.6), per Pro Football Focus. The five-year veteran surrendered just a 56.0 completion percentage, 261 yards and one touchdown when targeted this season.
MJ: Maxx Crosby
Crosby may be unhappy with the organization, but he continues to produce for the Raiders’ defense. He finished another season with 10 sacks, which is his third in the last four seasons. Hopefully, Crosby makes his way back to the roster in 2026.
TK: Maxx Crosby
For what would be the fourth season in a row, most likely, Crosby would win the Raiders’ defensive player of the year award. As stated above, he’s posted double-digit sacks in three of the last four seasons, 20+ TFL in three of the four seasons, and over 25 quarterback hits as well. Crosby has been an elite player for the Raiders, becoming more consistent and dominant as a run defender while still providing a good boost as a pass rusher as well.
BW: Maxx Crosby
Crosby. The rules are no repeaters. Screw the rules. Maxx deserves it.
ROY: Ashton Jeanty
RA: Tonka Hemingway
Not wanting to double-up — easily could’ve gone to Jeanty — I’m giving the nod to Hemingway. The fourth-round pick from South Carolina finished with only 9 total tackles but was tied for third on the team in sacks (four), and of those nine stops, five of them were tackles for loss. All this is coming on just 195 total defensive snaps at defensive tackle. The 6-foot-2 and 284-pound 24-year-old showcased drive and relentlessness, which bode well for the future. Cornerback and third-round pick Darien Porter merits attention, too, but I rolled with Tonka on this one.
MH: Darien Porter
While Jeanty was undoubtedly the Raiders’ best rookie this year, again, I’m trying to avoid doubling up on players. Porter’s first NFL season wasn’t perfect, but he was solid when called upon. He yielded just 19 completions and 256 yards while recording three PBUs when targeted this fall, per PFF. The Iowa State product has a bright future ahead of him if he continues to perfect his craft this offseason.
MJ: Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty comes away with this award as well, mostly for being the only rookie to play a high number of snaps. Jeanty is nominated for the award as well and could end up as the ROTY for the whole NFL.
TK: Ashton Jeanty
After selecting Jeanty sixth overall, Jeanty recorded 266 attempts for 975 yards and five touchdowns, with another 55 receptions, 346 yards, and five touchdowns. He became one of the first NFL rookie running backs to post both five receiving and rushing touchdowns in their first NFL season, and he fell short of 1,000 yards by just 25 yards. Jeanty also finished top eight in the NFL in forced missed tackles (61, fifth) and yards after contact at 815. Jeanty has shown notable flashes of being an elusive runner with the sixth-ranked elusiveness rating in the NFL, and he does show the ability to make long downhill runs.
BW: Ashton Jeanty
Let’s keep it simple, Jeanty. It was probably an overall disappointing rookie season, but it was far from on him. He should have enough tackle-breaking ability to get fans excited for the future. Het him a line and let’s see the progress.
CPOY: Eric Stokes
With no consensus winner here, I made the executive decision to give Stokes the award since he’s the only player below to receive a vote for another award. —Holder
RA: Devin White
Setting a new franchise record in total tackles, the veteran linebacker put a notch in several statistical categories in 2025: 174 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, three pass deflections, one forced fumble. The 27-year-old had quite the statistical bounceback in 2025 compared to 2024, when he had 19 total tackles in 7 games with the Houston Texans. A 17-game starter for the Raiders on a one-year flier-type contract, I expect Raiders general manager John Spytek to try and re-sign the linebacker he saw grow as a fifth overall pick (2019 draft) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
MH: Jamal Adams
In full disclosure, Stokes was going to be my vote, but I gave him DPOY. Instead, I’ll go with another free agent whose career was close to being obsolete, Adams. The converted safety played linebacker for the first time in his career and ended up being a good sub-package player. He was tied for fifth on the team with 23 defensive stops, via PFF, despite logging fewer than 450 snaps. Everyone ahead of Adams had more than 650 snaps.
MJ: Eric Stokes
Stokes had his best season since his rookie year, becoming a steady player in Pete Carroll’s cover-3 heavy system. It allowed him to flourish and play to his skill set, using his zone eyes to keep defenders in front of him and make plays. It could lead to a big payday for the former first-round pick out of Georgia.
TK: Jonah Laulu
After playing 474 snaps in 2024, where he recorded a sack, 35 tackles, three TFL, and two QB hits while also adding 10 pressures, 3.7% pass rush win rate, 20 stops, and 42.8% run stop win rate. Laulu had some struggles as well in the run game, consistently getting pushed out of place and struggling with his pad level as well. Laulu has shown the ability to be a good depth and rotational player for the Raiders’ defensive interior, and in his 764 snaps in 2025, he logged 25 pressures, 22 stops, a 6.9% pass rush win rate, 48.8% run stop win rate, 51 tackles, four sacks, eight TFL, five PBU, and 11 quarterback hits.
BW: Malcolm Koonce
Ok, this team doens’t deserve this many awards. Koonce has quiet for too many stretches of the season. But he flashed at times. It will be interesting to see how the Raiders value him in free agency.
Category: General Sports
