Takeaways are a key aspect for any NFL team. The ability to get the be ball back for the offense is often a deciding factor in winning football games.
Those kind of impact, game-altering plays aren’t relegated to just defense, however.
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Football is a three phase game and while offense and defense get a lot of attention — rightfully so — special teams is an integral aspect. All eyes will be on Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak and his offense, Rob Leonard and his defense, but pay attention to Joe DeCamllis’ his special teams units, too.
General manager John Spytek rolled up his sleeves this offseason acquiring talent to build the Raiders to Kubiak’s liking. The head coach and primary offensive play caller saw his group get intriguing talent. Ditto for Leonard and his defense. But plenty of the free agent acquisitions, drafted prospects, and undrafted free agents will get to cut their NFL teeth over on DeCamillis’ side of the ball.
Two particular free agents have the experience and production to led a special teams resurgence in Las Vegas: Linebacker Segun Olubi and wide receiver Dareke Young.
The Raiders are no stranger to Olubi’s knack for impact plays feeling the special teams dynamo’s impact in the team’s Week 5 tilt with the Indianapolis Colts, this past season.
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The 6-foot-1 and 233-pound San Diego State product came screaming off the edge to block AJ Cole III’s 4th-and-18 punt to set up the Colts offense on Las Vegas’ eight-yard line (which left the Raiders elite punter hobbled). And despite the Raiders defense’s valiant effort, five plays later, Indianapolis found the end zone in what would end up a runaway 40-6 Colts’ victory.
That one one example of Olubi’s penchant to make splash plays. Using his size and speed (clocked a 4.44 40-yard dash time at the San Diego State Pro Day prepping for the 2022 NFL Draft, in which he went undrafted), Olubi has played with a chip on his shoulder and became a core special teamer for the Colts in his second year onward, logging 1,077 of his special teams snaps from 2023 onward.
During that span, Olubi racked up 30 special teams tackles — leading Indianapolis — and recorded at least nine special teams tackles in his three seasons as a core special teamer. In 2025, the 26-year-old compiled 11 special teams tackles, a forced fumble, and a blocked punt (he has two in his career). Get this: The last time the Raiders blocked a punt was in 2022 — by Malcolm Koonce against the New England Patriots.
Olubi’s highlight was one of several special teams miscues for Las Vegas in 2025 and signing him as a free agent showcases the Raiders’ desire to not be a horrifically comedic under new DeCamillis.
Traditionally, while the Silver & Black have woefully inadequate on offense and/or defense, special teams was constant and steady. That wasn’t the case this past season.
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From blocked field goals (Week 4 against the Chicago Bears) to punts (Week 5 and then Week 10 against the Denver Broncos), coverage breakdowns (a 90-yard punt return touchdown to the Washington Commanders), kicking woes (Daniel Carlson’s regression in accuracy), and return unit impotence.
Olubi’s arrival can alleviate the coverage deficiencies. Ditto for Young.
At an imposing 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, the Lenoir-Rhyne product joined the Seattle Seahawks as a seventh-round pick (233rd overall) in the 2022 draft and quickly became a special teams staple logging 697 snaps in four seasons in the Pacific Northwest.
Like his free agent counterpart Olubi, Young brings speed (4.44 40-yard dash time at his pro day before the draft), physicality, and determination to special teams work. A strong tackler with 27 as a specialist, Young is an effective gunner as his size and speed make him a pain to be blocked.
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And he had a showcase muffed punt recover against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship clash this past season to help Seattle advance to the Super Bowl. The fumble recovery gave the Seahawks prime real estate and just one play later, Seattle found the end zone to take a 24-20 lead and also highlighted the Rams’ indifference to their own special teams unit.
Young also has a golden opportunity in Las Vegas to vie for kick return duties. Super veteran running back Raheem Mostert notched 23 attempts going for 673 yards (long of 54 yards) for a healthy 29.3 yards per return average last season. Tailback Dylan Laube pitched in with 33 returns for 855 yard (long of 38) for an average of 25.9 yards per attempt.
Young was part of an explosive return unit in Seattle notching 10 kick return attempts for 322 yards (long of 60) and a robust 32.2 yards per return average. It’s in those opportunities where he showed his speed and size makes him a tough tackle and the vision to either sprint through openings or weave through traffic.
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The Raiders return game hasn’t made a house call on a punt return since 2018 (Dwayne Harris’ 99-yarder against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 24) and on a kick return since 2011 (Jacoby Ford’s 101-yarder against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 16).
And getting that portion to produce alongside shoring up coverage units (not yielding long returns) and kicking game (ample protection for Cole on punts, concentrated blocking on field goals) are areas of opportunity for DeCamillis.
The additions of Olubi and Young will go a long way to restoring order.
