Rookies Tonka Hemingway, JJ Pegues add youth, energy to Las Vegas Raiders defense

Mid- and late-round picks give Las Vegas youth, energy in the trenches

As the Las Vegas Raiders embark on the Pete Carroll era, there’s one thing clear when players see their new head coach on the field: Energy.

Veteran wide receiver Jakobi Meyers provided hilarious insight on the Carroll’s energy level as the Silver & Black embark on offseason activities.

“I don’t know how he doing it, honestly. There’s gotta be some type of drug out there or something,” Meyers humorously said after the team’s offseason workout session this past Thursday.

Meyers lauded the Raiders new head coach’s ability to get the players moving in the right direction. Almost like the players need to match their super veteran head coach’s passion lest they be noticed as stragglers. And quite honestly, if a player can’t match or surpass Carroll’s liveliness, they won’t be in Las Vegas long.

Thus, all eyes on the newest and youngest Raiders on the roster: The rookies.

Namely defensive tackles Tonka Hemingway — taken with the 135th pick in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft — and JJ Pegues — picked at 180th overall in the sixth round.

What can Raider Nation expect out of the neophyte defenders in Year 1?

Athleticism, power, and frenetic energy.

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Our Matt Holder did an excellent job breaking down film on both Hemingway and Pegues. Holder highlighted the athleticism and power Hemingway brings from South Carolina. He also showcased how stout Pegues can be as both a run defender and pass rusher, as well as an intriguing option on offense, too boot.

There’s a glut at defensive tackle with nine players in the position group — 10 had it not been for the Raiders moving International Pathway Program signee Laki Tasi to offensive line.

That number of course will be dwindled and let’s take a look at how the mid- and late-round Raiders selections in this past draft can carve their spot in the 53-man roster.

Tonka Tough

At 6-foot-3 and 284 pounds, Hemingway displayed quick feet, suddenness, an brute force for the South Carolina Gamecocks defense.

Labeled as a “tweener” by some due to his lighter weight and slender frame compared to middle and bottom heavy contemporaries, Hemingway has experience on the edge as a defensive end and inside as a defensive tackle. Hemingway must take advantage of that versatility as the offseason continues to show defensive line boss Rob Leonard, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, and Carroll he can be moved around and be effective and productive.

Hemingway wasn’t a high-volume sack producer at South Carolina — he finished with 9.5 career sacks with four being his highest output in 2022 and 2024 — but his quickness and suddenness made him a disruptive presence in the middle. The Raiders can’t have enough of that and Hemingway would be wise to sit under the learning tree with Adam Butler and Christian Wilkins (when he’s able to participate in practices).

Consistency is elusive to Hemingway’s game and the 23-year-old needs to become a regular contributor instead of the splash play/fleeting moments he had with the Gamecocks.

That said, if he can bring the explosiveness and power he exhibited in college to the pros, he can carve out snaps on defense and special teams. Especially on a Raiders defensive line that doesn’t have Wilkins available yet.

Chess Pegues

Well-built and stout at 6-foot-2 and 309 pounds, this Ole Miss product was asked to do quite a bit and was effective when called upon.

With experience on the end and both a three-technique and nose tackle, Pegues must take advantage and showcase his position versatility in practices and workouts much like Hemingway.

Pegues is compact and thick which makes him a terror to block as he’s got the lower-body power to generate the explosive content that can displace blockers. He’s able to change direction very quickly which makes him that much more of a pain to block as Pegues is able to break through and make plays in the backfield.

Like his higher drafted 2025 classmate, Pegues wasn’t a big sack numbers guy in college — 10 total sacks with 3.5 being the highest outputs in 2023 and 2024 — but his eight and 14 tackles for loss in both seasons highlights his disruptiveness.

Pegues is also a hefty option on offense as a short-yardage ball carrier due to that same lower-body strength. Seven rushing touchdowns in 2024 highlight Pegues’ capability with the ball in his hands as he’s got both power and vision to convert short-yardage situations to first downs or touchdowns.

The Competition

Wilkins and Butler are heavily penciled in as starters/heavy contributors. But it’s unclear when Wilkins will be back — reports suggest by training camp in August. So snaps are available.

Veteran flier Leki Fotu is likely the first option to fill the nose tackle role due to his size at 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds.

Second-year player Jonah Laulu flashed in his rookie year in Las Vegas and brings good size at 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds and veteran Zach Carter brings tackle/end versatility as a 26-year-old. After them, it’s youngsters including Hemingway, Pegues, and fellow rookies (undrafted) Tank Booker (6-foot-3, 347 pounds) and Treven Ma’ae (6-foot-3, 277 pounds).

Carroll has preached open competition across the board to give his Raiders the best options at starter and backups. Thus, if Hemingway and Pegues can continue to bring energy and passion, the two rookies have the chance to potentially displace veterans for defensive and special teams snaps.