Centennial High product Jonah Laulu joins Raiders off waivers

Las Vegas has produced more NFL talent than ever before in the last several years, and now the Raiders have a player to show for it on the active roster for the first time since moving to the area.

The Raiders claimed Centennial High product Jonah Laulu, a defensive tackle, off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts Wednesday. That immediately places him on the 53-man roster, along with safety Thomas Harper whom the Raiders claimed from the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Colts had selected Laulu in the seventh round of this year’s NFL Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, where he transferred for two seasons after spending three years at the University of Hawaii.

He was a three-sport athlete at Centennial, also playing basketball and track and field in addition to football where he broke out his senior year.

The Raiders waived defensive tackle Byron Young, a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, to make room for Laulu. Cornerback M.J. Devonshire, taken in the seventh round of this year’s draft out of Pittsburgh, was waived for Harper.

Las Vegas seemed relatively deep at both safety and defensive tackle, but general manager Tom Telesco must have seen something special in Laulu and Harper.

Harper also went undrafted out of Notre Dame earlier this year despite having some late-round buzz after a strong showing at his pro day.

In a separate pair of moves, the Raiders also re-arranged their cornerback room. Veteran Brandon Facyson was added to injured reserve to make room to sign free agent Darnay Holmes, who spent the last four years with the New York Giants but was cut by the team on Tuesday. 

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or