It's been an offseason of change for the Las Vegas Raiders after a new coaching staff, led by Pete Carroll, was brought in.
Carroll immediately began putting his stamp on the roster, with his first major move being a trade for his former quarterback Geno Smith. The team also brought in some solid veterans in free agency, and then selected 11 players in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Of course, the selection of star running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round is the most notable selection. Jeanty should immediately transform the Raiders' offense and upgrade what was the worst rushing attack in the league in 2024.
While the team is surely excited about its draft picks, the Raiders also brought in a large number of undrafted free agents.
It's not surprising to see a few undrafted free agents end up making rosters each year, especially when a team is going through a transition like the Raiders are.
Now, let's identify the three undrafted free agents with the best shot at cracking this 53-man roster.
Mello Dotson, CB, Kansas
The Raiders do not have a deep secondary. Sure, the team added Eric Stokes in free agency and Darien Porter in the third round, but there's not much to get excited about with this position group.
Mello Dotson was frequently selected in mock drafts and it was a surprise to see him go undrafted. The corner collected 11 interceptions over three college seasons and allowed a sub-70.0 passer rating in coverage in both 2023 and 2024.
Dotson needs to work on his tackling, but the defender has the speed and coverage skills to stick in the league.
Zakhari Franklin, WR, Illinois
Zakhari Franklin is an interesting receiver prospect who quickly latched on with the Raiders after not being drafted.
Franklin played for UTSA, Ole Miss, and Illinois during his college career. In two of his four seasons at UTSA, Franklin eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark and demonstrated solid ability as a route-runner with reliable hands.
Franklin continued to produce in the Big Ten for Illinois in 2024 after playing in just four games at Ole Miss. This is an experienced receiver who could carve out a role in a thin receiver room.
Jah Joyner, EDGE, Minnesota
Jah Joyner is another prospect who could have been drafted. Joyner is a talented edge-rusher who was a solid player for four seasons at Minnesota.
In 2024, Joyner collected 32 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. The defender finished his college career with 14.5 sacks in 43 games.
Joyner has solid size at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds. The defender has solid speed off the edge and the strength to push blockers and get to ball-carriers. Like cornerback and wide receiver, the Raiders' edge-rush group isn't deep, so Joyner could find his way on the team with a solid summer showing.
