Las Vegas claim 2 rookies, cut bait on 2023 3rd rounder
Tuesday, Las Vegas Raiders general manager Tom Telesco said the team would be bust after setting the initial 53-man roster.
He wasn’t kidding.
Wednesday morning, Las Vegas claimed defensive tackle Jonah Laulu and safety Thomas Harper. Both are rookies. Laulu was a seventh-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts and Harper was an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Raiders have claimed S Thomas Harper off of waivers from the Chargers. This preseason:
☠️ 77.0 PFF grade
☠️ 16 coverage snaps
☠️ 0 receiving yards allowed
☠️ 1 forced incompletion
☠️ 2 stops pic.twitter.com/XETLQj52K4— PFF Las Vegas Raiders (@PFF_Raiders) August 28, 2024
Laulu, who is from Las Vegas, played at Oklahoma and Harper went to Notre Dame.
The full waiver claims … Panthers awarded an NFL-high five players, Patriots are second with four. pic.twitter.com/917SUvFNbx
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 28, 2024
They were among 26 players claimed around the league Wednesday. The Raiders were one of four teams to claim multiple players. None of the players Las Vegas waived Tuesday were claimed. Many of them are expected to be added to the Raiders’ practice squad beginning Wednesday.
The Raiders must remove two players from the 53-man roster to fit in both Laulu and Harper. NFL Media is reporting one of the cuts is defensive tackle Byron Young.
The Alabama product was a third-round pick last year from the previous regime. He only played in six games last season and struggled in the preseason this year, so it’s not a shock the Raiders cut him.
In two drafts, Dave Ziegler used 4 of 15 picks on DTs and committed 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th round picks to spot. Only the 7th rounder remains on #Raiders roster.
— Bill Williamson (@BWilliamsonNFL) August 28, 2024
If he clears waivers Thursday, he could re-sign with the Raiders’ practice squad or pursue an opportunity on another practice squad.
UPDATE:
The Raiders’ also cut seventh-round pick, cornerback M.J. Devonshire. The Pitt product could go to the practice squad Thursday if he’s unclaimed. The Raiders have filled 14 of the 17 spots (they get an extra spot because of David Agoha) on the practice squad.
They also put cornerback Brandon Facyson on the injured reserve. They have a roster spot open and only four cornerbacks on the roster, although Harper could play some nickel. Expect a cornerback to be added.
With a open roster spot and just 4 CBs on the roster, another corner could be signed soon #Raiders
— Bill Williamson (@BWilliamsonNFL) August 28, 2024
Both Facyson and rookie safety Trey Taylor (who was put on the IR on Tuesday) are eligible to be added to the 53-man roster after four games.
The two players claimed played areas in which the Raiders showed a lack of depth in the preseason and they were expected to be addressed and Telesco has done so with the early moves.