Story by
Can an Undrafted Rookie Claim a Roster Spot With the Raiders?
- Story by
- Can an Undrafted Rookie Claim a Roster Spot With the Raiders?
As the Raiders rebuild their roster, finding unheralded talent could spur the team into contention quicker. Finding an undrafted free agent to make the roster, or even snag playing time, would be helpful to an organization looking anywhere for improvements.
Cian Slone went undrafted this offseason, but signed with the Raiders. Now the edge rusher could make his final push for a spot on the 53-man roster tonight as the Raiders take on the 49ers in their final preseason game.
Advertisement
The Raiders have four edge rushers virtually locked into roster spots. Maxx Crosby and new signee Kwity Paye will start, as Malcolm Koonce and rookie Keyron Crawford will serve as the primary backups.
But Las Vegas could carry a fifth edge rusher, which is where Slone would fit in.
Slone spent three years playing college football at Utah State and North Carolina State and picked up 11.5 sacks across three seasons. He only had 1.5 sacks last season, his only year at North Carolina State.
Advertisement
Slone's performance was better than his sack numbers indicated, he generated 40 pressures last season, which ranked 52nd out of 196 edge rushers , according to Pro Football Focus. However, ranking 52nd in college doesn't usually translate to the NFL.
In two preseason games, Slone has picked up three quarterback pressures on 24 pass rushing snaps. He also has three run stops, leading the team's edge rushers. He's only played against second and third-string offenses in those preseason games, but he has been good enough to have a shot at making the roster.
The aging edge rushers
Sep 7, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) practices before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
This is an important year for the Raiders to evaluate their edge rushers. Crosby was viewed as expendable earlier in the offseason, as the Raiders looked to add draft picks to aid in the rebuild. Even with Crosby back, figuring out who will be rushing the passer in the future is key.
Advertisement
The Raiders could still trade Crosby. If he still commands two first-round picks, Las Vegas would be wise to take the offer before the trade deadline, assuming the Raiders are not in playoff contention. But a lesser offer could lead to Crosby back in Las Vegas for 2027.
At 29 years old, Crosby doesn't fit the Raiders' timeline, but might be good enough to hold off an age-related decline long enough to see the playoffs again.
Paye will turn 28 this season. He also is an odd fit for the Raiders' timeline. He is likely more of a stopgap until the Raiders truly believe they can compete. But Paye will have every opportunity to show he can stick around for multiple seasons as a starter.
Advertisement
After the top two, Koonce, who is 28 as well, is looking to regain his form from the end of the 2023 season. Koonce picked up 8 of his 14.5 career sacks in the last nine games of 2023. At this point, Koonce is merely a backup.
Crawford is probably the most important player to watch for among this group. The third-round pick out of Texas A&M is the only edge rusher with any youth. If Crawford can show that he is a capable NFL starter at 22 years old, the Raiders can at least rely on one edge rusher for the next few seasons.
But if Crawford isn't productive, the Raiders will need to start looking for more edge rushers next offseason, as their current crop ages.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
