Undrafted free agents, everyone talks about them, usually more so than most rookies drafted in rounds 5-7. Undrafted rookies have made waves in the NFL, they have certainly found opportunities to start, become All-Pro’s, and impact games heavily. The Raiders have heavily leaned on former undrafted free agents on the roster year after year. Up till the 2025 season, Las Vegas had carried a UDFA on the initial roster for nearly 10 straight seasons. While nothing will likely come close to their 2019
UDFA class which included All-Pro’s Keisean Nixon (KR), AJ Cole (P), Alec Ingold (FB). They also found starters in Andre James and Lester Cotton on the offensive line. Per Pro Football Reference’s Average Value (similar to MLB WAR) the Raiders 2019 UDFA class accounted for more value than Clelin Ferrell, Johnathan Abram, and Trayvon Mullen combined.
If you’re wondering where some of the 2019 UDFA’s are, Cole is the only one to remain with the Raiders. Alec Ingold landed with the Chargers after a stint in Miami, Keisean Nixon remains on the Packers and played north of 1000 snaps on defense last season. Andre James spent 2025 with the Chargers, and remains a free agent alongside Lester Cotton Sr.
2020:
The Raiders 2020 UDFA class included very few UDFA’s, largely given the COVID cycle resulting in teams inability to find talent down the board, and conduct full interviews as they wished to do.
- C Mike Panasiuk – Starting center on the St. Louis Battlehawks
- LS Liam McCullough – Starting LS for the Atlanta Falcons
- WR George Mariner – Led the UFL in receiving yards for the 2025 season, 1x CFL Grey Cup champion. Was released prior to the start of the 2026 UFL season. Has not played since.
The class also included ILB Javin White who spent 5 seasons in the NFL and UFL, CB Madre Harper, TE Nick Bowers, and K Dom Eberle who are no longer playing professional football.
2021:
The Raiders landed back on their roots in 2021, adding 10 undrafted free agents. The class featured TE Matt Bushman (retired in 2023 as 2x Super Bowl Champion), RB Garrett Groshek (retired in 2023), T Devery Hamilton, CB TJ Morrison, RB Trey Ragas, ILB Max Richardson, WR Dillon Stoner, DT Darius Stills (retired in 2023), and CB Shaun Crawford among Turner below. The class did not produce any true NFL starters or depth talent, and as a whole has been the Raiders lowest UDFA class since average value has been calculated.
- WR DJ Turner – Logged one touchdown for the Raiders in 2024. Suffered season ending torn ACL in 2025. Has not returned to football since.
2022:
2022, the first season for GM Dave Ziegler with the Raiders following his time with the Patriots and in replacement of former Raiders general manager Mike Mayock who was dismissed in early January. The Raiders attacked the undrafted free agent front heavily, something that the Patriots and Ziegler had done numerous times. The class equated to the be one of the Raiders more valuable in terms of pure snaps.
- SAF Isaiah Pola-Mao – Has logged 2245 career defensive snaps, and 705 special teams snaps for the Raiders. Earned a 2 year, 9.5 million contract in 2025. Struggled in coverage, run defense, and full time workload as a single high safety. Still with Raiders, likely will continue to find his way onto NFL rosters for the foreseeable future.
- ILB Luke Masterson – Appeared in 37 games with the Raiders for nearly 1500 snaps across defense and ST. Did not play in 2025, released by the Orlando Storm prior to the 2026 UFL season. Recorded a career 103 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 FF, PBU, and 19 ST Tackles through his NFL career.
- RB Sincere McCormick – Spent 2024 on the Raiders with 39 rushes, 183 yards, and another 30 receiving yards. Didn’t play in 2025 on Vikings/Broncos/Cardinals/49ers Practice Squads. Signed with the 49ers this off-season, and was waived/injured on May 28th.
- EDGE Zach VanValkenburg – Waived by Raiders in 2022, spent 2023 & 2024 with the Rams. Career 9 tackles, 2 TFL, sack, and 3 QB hits.
- CB Sam Webb – Appeared in 36 career NFL games with 5 starts. 45 tackles, 5 PBU, FF, and 11 ST tackles in his career. Has bounced between Raiders, Browns, Titans, and Browns. Currently a FA, but worked out for multiple teams in the last few weeks.
Non NFL Players:
- ILB Darien Butler – Spent 2022 & 2023 with Raiders, suffered torn MCL/ACL in 2024. 2025 in the CFL, and has been on the Orlando Storm in 2026. Has logged 53 tackles, 4 TFL, and 2 PBU in his 10 UFL games. Should see possible NFL training camp invites
- SAF Qwynnterrio Cole – Spent last three seasons in UFL, career 145 tackles, 8 TFL, 5 INT, 14 PBU in his UFL career. 2x All-UFL selection, will sign with an NFL team this off-season
- WR Justin Hall – Spent 3 seasons in the UFL, spent part of 2024 on the Vikings practice squad. Has a career 1300 receiving yards, 7 TD in his UFL career across 30 games
The class also featured CB Bryce Cosby, TE Cole Fotheringham (released by NE in August 2025), QB Chase Garbers, CB Malkelm Morrison (retired in 2022), T Bam Olaseni, DT Myron Amosa (Notre Dame’s Director of FB Player Development), & WR Tre’ Turner who have all been out of professional football recently. Overall, the Raiders found 5 players who spent time on NFL rosters, with 2 being consistent players, and one still active making it a fairly quality class.
2023:
The second season for Dave Ziegler, and he found a gem, though they also released that gem. The Raiders only signed 10 free agents, and at the time had landed one of the biggest steals of the UDFA class in UT Chattanooga guard/center McClendon Curtis who was a projected 4th rounder heading into draft weekend. Overall looking back, the Raiders 2023 UDFA class didn’t amount to much overall, but features a potential future Pro Bowler.
- ILB Drake Thomas – After 23 tackles, 4 TFL, a sack, 2 PBU, and a FF in 3 pre-season games the Raiders decided to waive Thomas. He was claimed by the Seahawks, to no surprise, and only appeared in 7 games for the 2023 season. Thomas played in all 17 in 2024 as a special teams standout with 13 tackles, and in 2025 is when he fully came to play. Thomas played in 763 snaps across 17 games with 14 starts logging 96 tackles, 10 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 7 QB hits, and 8 PBU. Thomas would go on to add 19 tackles, 2 TFL, and a PBU in the Seahawks three post-season games in route to a Super Bowl championship. Thomas has developed into one of the better coverage ILB in the NFL, and is in line to start and wear the green dot for Mike MacDonald’s defense in 2026.
- T Dalton Wagner – Wagner appeared in his first NFL game in 2025. The 6’7, 315 pounder will have a chance to push for the Raiders 10th lineman position this off-season but has remained a quality candidate to land on their practice squad as well.
- IOL McClendon Curtis – Curtis did not live up to the proposed draft steal that many, including myself, had labeled. He’s bounced between the Raiders, Seahawks, Cardinals, and Giants before landing back to Las Vegas in 2025. The Raiders released him on May 2nd, and he’s previously worked out for the Titans & Giants. Curtis did play nearly 80 career NFL snaps through his career.
Non NFL Players:
- CB Azizi Hearn – Hearn bounced between the Patriots, Panthers, Giants, and Chiefs practice squads since 2023 and was in the UFL for the 2026 season. Hearn played in all 10 games with 27 tackles, 2 PBU, and a FR.
- EDGE Adam Plant Jr – The UNLV standout landed in the UFL where he played 6 games before injury in 2026 with 7 tackles, 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and a FF along with a 18.4% win rate. Plant should be back for the 2026-2027 season.
- EDGE George Tarlas – Released in 2023, did not play since till 2026 where he’s landed with the Potsdam Royals of the European Football League.
The class also featured EDGE Brock Martin, CB Jordan Perryman (released by Ottawa Redblacks in May), and TE John Samuel Shenker, who are not a part of professional football at the moment.
2024:
The Raiders 2024 UDFA class features a fair amount of rookies who are currently on some form of professional football roster, as is the case with more recent classes. The first, and only, draft class for former Raiders & Chargers general manager Tom Telesco did net three starters in the first three picks, but a lot of questions beyond then.
- C Will Putnam – Appeared in 139 snaps for the Raiders in 2025 allowing 4 sacks, 10 pressures, and ranking as PFF’s lowest pass protector with 100+ snaps. Putnam looks to push for the backup C role in 2026.
- QB Carter Bradley – Spent 2024 with the Raiders, was released and landed with the 49ers. He then joined the Jaguars in 2025 and has remained on their practice squad, and pre-season rosters since. Bradley is reportedly pushing for a potential backup QB position for the 2026 season.
- T Andrew Coker – Released in 2024, has spent his full time since with the Cincinnati Bengals on their practice squad and off-season rosters. Coker has a chance to push for the Bengals 4th tackle position in 2026.
- ILB Amari Gainer – Gainer spent all of 2024 with the Raiders logging 5 tackles and 5 ST tackles. Was released before the 2025 season and has spent since with the Patriots on their practice squad and off-season rosters. Reportedly has a chance to push for bottom of the roster spot in 2026.
Non NFL Players:
- DT Tomari Fox – Was out of professional football till 2025 with Edmonton Elks where he played 3 games. Broke camp with the Elks roster in 2026.
- EDGE TJ Franklin – One of the top UFL pass rushers, has a career 30 tackles, 7 TFL, 5 sacks, 58 pressures, 19.7% win rate (including 21.8% in 2026), 2 PBU, 2 FF, and a FR. Franklin at just 24 years old, is expected to workout and sign with an NFL roster this off-season.
- CB Ja’Quan Sheppard – Spent 2025 in the UFL with 17 tackles, INT, 2 PBU, and a FF. Missed all of 2026 with an injury. Expected to return in 2027.
- EDGE Ron Stone Jr – Ironically the Raiders have a UFL EDGE factory. In 19 games has 70 tackles, 9 TFL, 10.5 sacks, FF, and 2 FR. Added 20.7% pass rush win rate in 2026. Should sign with an NFL roster in 2026, or will remain in the UFL to develop, just 26 years old.
- SAF Rayshad Williams – Originally a CB, converted to FS in the UFL. Missed 7 games in 2026 with an injury, through 13 games at the UFL level has 41 tackles, 2 INT, 11 PBU, and a FF. Will return in 2027.
The class also featured G Clark Barrington, WR Jeff Foreman, CB Woo Governor (now a rapper), WR Tulu Griffin (retired in February ), G Jake Johanning (retired in October), WR Ramel Keyton (1 reception in NFL career, spent 2025 with the Titans), SAF Phalen Sanford, & DT Noah Shannon who remain out of organized football, though Ramel Keyton looks to return for the UFL in 2027.
2025:
The first draft for GM John Spytek, and hopefully the last first draft for a Raiders GM in a long time, showed some promise from initial rookies, and their UDFA class did show 4 players who have a chance to push for roster spots heading into 2026 coming off playtime in 2027. While likely no pure standout’s, the class has a chance to build decent depth for Las Vegas longterm on the bottom of the roster.
- TE Carter Runyon – Will compete for the Raiders 3rd/4th TE role this season. Athletic, physical TE, good blocker. Has a chance to carve out NFL career after over 120 offensive & special teams snaps in 2025.
- CB Greedy Vance – 81 defensive snaps in 2025 plus special teams snaps. Likely outside looking in with younger talent, and Vance profiles as pure nickel. Should land on practice squad.
- DT Treven Ma’ae – Flashed in pre-season, ranking 4th among all rookie DT in pass rush win rate & 3rd in run stop win rate. Versatile, athletic, has a chance to push for bottom of the roster spot in Raiders weak IDL room.
- EGDE Jahfari Harvey – Played 25 snaps for the Raiders, will look to possibly push for 4th/5th pass rusher role, likely practice squad behind Brennan Jackson and/or Cian Slone.
Non NFL Players:
- SAF Hudson Clark – Appeared in 8 games for the UFL’s Stallions missing two with injury. 17 tackles, TFL, INT, and 3 PBU. Will likely stay in the UFL for 1-2 more seasons before having a chance at the NFL. Core ST at Nebraska, has done the same in UFL.
- T Parker Clements – Did not appear in a game for the UFL in 2026, should have a chance to play in 2027.
- CB Ra’Mello Dotson – Appeared in 1 game before retiring but has since re-signed and intends to play in 2027 and beyond. Spent time with the Panthers after being released by the Raiders.
- WR Zakhari Franklin – Broke camp with the Montreal Alouettes opening day roster, should command workload in the CFL this season.
- ILB Matt Jones – Spent 2026 with the Dallas Renegades, only playing in 4 games with 5 tackles & a TFL. Will return to the roster in 2027 with chance for more playtime.
- EDGE Jah Joyner – Viewed as a steal as a UDFA, didn’t pan out. Another standout UFL EDGE rusher, in 10 games last season logged 31 tackles, 7 TFL, and a sack with a PBU. Just 24 years old, will stay in the UFL for 1-2 more seasons and possibly head back to the NFL.
The class also featured NT Tank Booker, T Dom Boyd, FB Pat Conroy, OL Jarrod Hufford, & CB John Humphrey Jr who have not been a part of professional football as of recent.
