The Las Vegas Raiders recently trimmed their roster down to 53 players, complying with NFL roster requirements. With that task complete, they’re now able to sign new players. Following the waiver wire on August 28, the Raiders claimed former Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Thomas Harper and former Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Jonah Laulu.
Thomas Harper, an undrafted rookie from Notre Dame, showed promise in the preseason, ranking as the Chargers’ ninth-best defender according to Pro Football Focus. Los Angeles intended to re-sign him to their practice squad, but the Raiders acquired him first. Despite modest college statistics with only two interceptions over five years, Harper had 6.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks in his final college season, making him a noteworthy addition.
Jonah Laulu, whom the Raiders also claimed, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Colts this year. Like Harper, Laulu was expected to be signed to the practice squad by Indianapolis. Although the Colts took a risk by exposing Laulu to waivers, it didn’t pay off. Laulu, a native of Las Vegas who played college football in Hawaii and Oklahoma, could quickly endear himself to fans. Despite concerns about his size—listed at 289 pounds—NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein highlighted Laulu’s athleticism and potential, suggesting he could be a valuable project for the Raiders.
The Raiders didn’t lose any players they cut to other teams, meaning those players are likely to be added to the practice squad if there’s mutual interest. This leaves the door open for players the Raiders liked but didn’t yet deem ready for the active roster to return in the future.