While the Raiders added former Packers cornerback Eric Stokes and used their third-round pick on Iowa State's Darien Porter, they still went out and signed four undrafted rookies at the position, including Mello Dotson.
On Monday, Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski identified Dotson as Las Vegas' most exciting undrafted free agent in 2025.
"Even with the addition of fellow cornerback Darien Porter in the third round, the Las Vegas Raiders still have poor depth in a secondary, which desperately needed upgrades entering the draft," Soblieski wrote. "Dotson has the profile to not only make the roster but also end up in a contributing role relatively early in his professional career."
Dotson, 23, was a two-star recruit at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, before committing to the University of Kansas.
Over the last five years, Dotson appeared in 53 games, recording 177 tackles (five for a loss), 25 passes defensed, 12 interceptions (four returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered and a sack. He also earned first-team All-Big 12 honors for his performance this past season.
Bleacher Report's Cory Giddings had him graded as a fifth-round pick before the draft.
"His length, ball skills, and competitive nature make him a valuable asset in zone-heavy schemes, though he has the physical tools to contribute in man coverage with refinement," Giddings wrote. "While he will need to address his tackling consistency and tighten his transitions, Dotson's ability to create turnovers and compete in the run game makes him a high-level developmental prospect with starting upside."
With the state of Las Vegas' cornerback room, they need all the help they can get, and it's not out of question that Dotson not only earns a spot on the roster out of camp, but that he also earns playing time as a rookie.
