The Las Vegas Raiders may not be getting much noise for their defensive front, but Jonah Laulu is starting to look like the kind of player who can change that conversation.
Last season, the Raiders were forced to lean on their defense because the offense was so limited, and that put a heavy burden on Patrick Graham’s unit. Even in that environment, the defensive line kept standing out. Laulu was one of the biggest reasons why.
His path to Las Vegas wasn’t exactly straightforward. The Indianapolis Colts selected the former Oklahoma and Hawaii defensive lineman late in the draft to keep him out of undrafted free agency, but he didn’t survive the Colts’ initial roster cut.
The Raiders picked him up, and he wasted little time carving out a real role. What began as rotational work turned into a bigger job, and by last fall he had become a regular presence up front, starting 15 of 17 games while posting 51 tackles, four sacks, and 26 pressures.
That production made Laulu one of the clearest bright spots on a team that didn’t have many. It also reinforced just how much growth he has shown in a short time, going from a name that barely registered in online draft circles a couple of years ago to a legitimate starter for Las Vegas.
He’s not doing it alone, either. The Raiders’ defensive front also includes veteran Adam Butler, Thomas Booker IV, and second-year player Tonka Hemingway, who had four sacks as a rotational defensive tackle.
Behind them are younger pieces like JJ Pegues and seventh-round rookie Brandon Cleveland. It’s a group that may not draw headlines, but it has enough talent to make opponents take notice.
What stands out most with Laulu is the way he plays. He brings urgency as both a pass rusher and a run defender, and the effort level jumps off the tape.
For a player who has already been overlooked once in the draft and cut by another team, that kind of edge matters. It fits the energy Las Vegas wants under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, who has coached Laulu on the defensive line for the last couple of seasons.
After studying his film, there’s a strong case that Laulu is ready for another jump. He already looks like a player who can become a respected starter for the Raiders and push his way into wider league recognition in 2026.
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