The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly cutting defensive tackle Jonah Laulu, a move that is going to raise some eyebrows around the league. Laulu, at just 26 years old, wasn’t just on the roster; he was a starting player for this squad last season.
From Waiver Wire Claim to D-Line Starter, Then Out
Think about this journey: Laulu was a seventh-round pick by the Colts in 2024, but he couldn’t even crack their initial 53-man roster. The Raiders scooped him up off waivers that same year, and he went on to play all 17 games as a rookie. That’s a wild turnaround right there. Then, last season, in 2025, he played all 17 games again, and here’s the kicker: he started a staggering 15 of them. That’s a significant role for a young defensive lineman.
So, what happened this year? Suddenly, in five games this season, Laulu was on the field for only 32 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. And then, the final straw, he was a healthy scratch for their loss to the Rams on Sunday. Going from a 15-game starter to a healthy scratch in less than a year is a head-scratcher.
The Numbers Tell a Story, But What Story?
Looking at his career stats, Laulu isn’t some unknown quantity. He’s got 5.5 career sacks, racked up 11 tackles for loss, and put in 12 quarterback hits. And get this: 4.0 of those sacks came just last season. Those aren’t garbage time numbers, those are solid contributions from a guy who was clearly making an impact.
Now, with this move coming on October 27, 2026, the Raiders are clearly shifting their defensive line strategy. For Laulu, it means hitting the waiver wire again, but this time with a far more impressive resume than when he first came into the league. It’ll be fascinating to see if another team swoops in to grab a young defensive tackle who has proven he can play at this level, especially given his production and experience.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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