Much of the attention will be focused on the 10 prospects the Las Vegas Raiders selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. And for good reason.
The Silver & Black had the top overall selection and snared what it hopes to be the long-term solution a the quarterback position in Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Advertisement
Over the course of the seven-round draft, general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak combined to bolster a roster very much in need of talent infusion. The team tackled areas of need on both offense and defense including taking a flier on cornerback Jermod McCoy by trading up to the top pick in the fourth round and snagging a potential shutdown corner who had injury concerns.
The roster building didn’t end with April’s draft. Like the other 31 teams, the Raiders dipped into the undrafted free agent pool, had some in for tryouts, and inked a grip of hopefuls post-draft.
Let’s take a look at a trio of undrafted rookies who can make noise this offseason and fight for a roster spot beyond the 90-man mark that all teams are currently at. These three are at position groups where depth and pecking order aren’t clearly established:
Cian Slone
Defensive End, N.C. State
On his relentless alone, Slone has the frenetic energy that many NFL teams covet. Standing 6-foot-3 and 239 pounds, the Rocklin, Calif. native is like watching the Ultimate Warrior run to the ring back in the WWF glory days. The edge rusher has an urgency very few display and it’s that type of determination that plays well into his aggressive, run-and-hunt style of play he showcased this past season for the Wolfpack and the two years prior at Utah State.
Remember how running back Justin Fargas earned the name “crash test dummy” for his reckless abandon running style?
Advertisement
That’s how Slone approaches playing defense: Explode, pack a wallop, and run through the ballcarrier with intentions of delivering the most amount of destruction possible.
Able to play as a standup rusher or hands in the dirt, he arrives with versatility but Slone will need the seasoning to earn consistent snaps on defense. He reminds me a lot of one-season Raider Chris Clemons who had an eight-sack 2007 season in Silver & Black before racking up 56 more in his remaining eight years in the NFL after his stint in Oakland.
Slone never takes plays off, has the mentality to be a special teams psycho, and the Raiders can’t get enough of that type for Joe DeCamillis’ coverage units as he develops into a reliable edge defender.
Chase Roberts
Wide Receiver, BYU
Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, Jalen Nailor represent the top three wideouts heading into offseason and there’s a slew of others at the position group. Kubiak’s staff will need to develop and determine the depth chart but the receivers lower on the pecking order must be able to contribute on special teams.
Advertisement
Case in point: Dareke Young, who was with Kubiak in Seattle and signed with Las Vegas this offseason in free agency. A trusted gunner with good size at 6-foot-2 and 224 pounds, Young has the makings of a special teams captain. Which brings us to the group of Dont’e Thornton Jr., E.J. Williams Jr., Malik Benson, and Chase Roberts.
Of that group, Benson is the smallest at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds while the others tower at 6-foot-3 and above. For Roberts, he has the size at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds to be a contested-catch specialist that uses height and leaping ability to be a trusty big X receiver. Mendoza had a similar type of wideout at Indiana in Charlie Becker (6-foot-4 and 204 pounds) that can make the contested, tough catches.
However, Roberts will need to use that frame to be an impact gunner for roster considerations. If Thornton or Williams are unable to do that, it opens a window for Roberts.
Advertisement
Tyler Duzanksy
Long Snapper, Penn State
Sensing a special teams theme with the two aforementioned undrafted free agents? We’ll here’s the hat trick in Duzansky.
Gone is former long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer — who was a favorite of and arrived with former special teams boss Tom McMahon — and a key task for DeCamillis this offseason is selecting a new one.
There are currently two on the roster with Duzanksy as one and the other being Alex Ward. Las Vegas did pick some intriguing options at an oft-forgotten position as both Duzansky and Ward were finalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, an accolade bestowed upon the best long snapper in college football.
Advertisement
Ward brings 38 games of NFL experience (two postseason games) with the Los Angeles Rams in his three years in the league. He was the primary snapper from 2023 to 2025 but miscues during field goals led to 27-year-old Central Florida product getting waived and the Raiders signed him to a future/reserve contract this past January.
Duzanksy, meanwhile, was a steady four-year presence at Penn State where he showcased the ability to zip the ball but be an asset on coverage units with his tackling ability in 49 career collegiate games. Earmarked by some draft pundits as one of the top long snapper prospects in the 2026 draft class, Duzanksy must show the same consistent performance for the Nittany Lions with the Raiders to beat Ward outright.
Both are of similar height at 6-foot-4 with Ward being heavier at 240 pounds. The 23-year-old Duzansky is leander at 225 pounds but due to that, he has much more functional athleticism to get down the field for tackles on coverage duties post long snap. The combination of consistent snaps and getting downfield to make tackles is going to be the demarcation line between these two.
Advertisement
And of course, the chemistry each builds with punter and holder AJ Cole III and place kickers Matt Gay and Kansei Matsuzawa will be critical, too.
