Raiders Strike Deal With All-Big 12 CB in Free Agency

The Las Vegas Raiders put together an incredible 2025 NFL Draft class under first-time general manager John Spytek and veteran head coach Pete Carroll. With 11 selections across the three-day event, the Raiders added several franchise cornerstones, as well as a slew of athletic players with high-end potential.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was the team's first selection of the new era, as Las Vegas picked him with the No. 6 overall pick. They added more offensive firepower in the middle rounds, taking wide receivers Jack Bech from TCU and Dont'e Thornton from Tennessee, as well as a pair of strong and versatile offensive linemen.

Spytek only selected one cornerback during the draft, however, which was seen as a major need for the Raiders this offseason. To remedy this, the team immediately signed Kansas cornerback Mello Dotson as an undrafted free agent on Saturday evening.

At Kansas, Dotson was a First-Team All-Big 12 selection as a senior. During his final campaign, he recorded 49 tackles and seven passes defended, as well as a conference-leading five interceptions and a nation-leading two interceptions returned for a touchdown.

Dotson is a bit small to play on the outside for Coach Carroll, but at 6-foot-1 with 31 and 1/2-inch arms, he could move around as both a slot and wide cornerback. He has NFL-level ball skills, as evidenced by his 12 career interceptions and four defensive touchdowns, and he has a solid chance of making the initial 53-man roster. He'll also have an outside shot of starting by Week 1 if he can beat out Darnay Holmes.