After a disappointing season, the Las Vegas Raiders' best-kept secret is somebody who was a seventh-round pick by another team in 2024.
The Las Vegas Raiders have undergone a massive overhaul in the coaching staff and on the roster ever since the 2025 season came to an end.
And, that is probably for the best after a disappointing three-win season and the failed experiment with Geno Smith as the quarterback and Pete Carroll as the head coach.
Klint Kubiak comes in as the new head coach, and he is fresh off a Super Bowl win. And, the Raiders selected Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall and added veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins to be the bridge until the Heisman Trophy winner is ready to take over.
But, even with all of that talent, there is one best-kept secret on the roster, and Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report named Jonah Laulu as that player for Las Vegas.
He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2024 NFL Draft in the seventh round, but the Colts cut him and he made an immediate impact in a short stint with the Raiders.
"The 25-year-old defensive lineman became a much bigger part of the Raiders' defensive rotation in Year 2. Laulu still struggled, specifically against the run, but he's included here because he brings a very specific and valuable skill set," Sobleski wrote.
He also added that Laulu is a "legitimate interior pass-rusher" and he can be a regular contributor, so that will be a positive development for the Raiders if he can take another step forward.
Laulu also seemed excited to usher in this new era of Raiders football, and the hope is that Las Vegas can turn things around quickly with a lot of new faces in town.
Laulu is also a Las Vegas native, so he is living the dream of playing for the hometown team, although the Raiders have not been in town for very long.
On top of that, superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who is still with the Raiders after the failed trade with the Baltimore Ravens, spoke very highly of Laulu.
Crosby said Laulu is a "super talented guy and he’s just going to keep getting better," via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
As the saying goes, Laulu could be another man's treasure that fell into the perfect opportunity after being let go by the Colts.
So far, it has worked out for both sides, and even with some new pieces on the defense, the expectation is that Laulu will see regular snaps this upcoming season.
