There is a lot of excitement among Las Vegas Raiders fans, who are hoping the team can return to NFL competitiveness. The team has hired a successful coach from both the NCAA and NFL–Pete Carroll. In addition, the new quarterback will be Geno Smith, who has clearly improved significantly over the course of his NFL career.
The Raiders were undoubtedly one of the teams that passed on Shedeur Sanders. The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback had long been linked to the Raiders–since last season, in fact–but the team decided to go in another direction. With the sixth overall pick, they selected the best running back in the class, Ashton Jeanty from Boise State.
Now, Pete Carroll and the Raiders face a tough challenge: competing in the AFC West, where they face Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs, Justin Herbert’s Los Angeles Chargers, and now the Denver Broncos led by Bo Nix, who have made a big leap in quality over the past season.
The Raiders have brought in a player with Rugby experience
Las Vegas has become the latest team to sign a Rugby player, aiming to turn him into a professional NFL football player.
In a press release, the team announced the signing of Laki Tasi. He plays as a defensive lineman and will be part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. Tasi, born in Australia, will be granted an exemption to be included in the 90-player offseason roster.
Tasi is 21 years old, stands 6 feet 6 inches tall, and weighs 348 pounds. He played for the Ashgrove GPS Rugby Club in Queensland’s Premier Rugby Union. However, according to reports, he always had the desire to play in the NFL–and now he’ll get his chance with the Raiders.
It will be a challenge, as there’s no doubt the NFL is the most demanding league in the world. But there is already a success story: Jordan Mailata, the Eagles’ tackle and also an Australian, went through the same process and is now one of the most valuable players in the league.
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