Raiders add defensive end, linebacker, receiver with camp set to start

The Las Vegas Raiders made significant roster adjustments ahead of the upcoming training camp. With players eligible to report on Tuesday and others set to arrive Wednesday, the club announced on Monday afternoon the signings of defensive end Patrick Johnson, linebacker Buddy Johnson and wide receiver Deven Thompkins. In corresponding moves, the Raiders released wide receiver Jonathan Brady, linebacker Chris Thomas and defensive tackle Laki Tasi. Patrick Johnson, 27, was a seventh‑round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021, appearing in five of his six seasons with the club. He has played 70 games — including 12 in 2024 with the New York Giants — recording 47 tackles and one sack, mostly on special teams. Buddy Johnson, also 27, was a fourth‑round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. He has appeared in 33 games, with stints at the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts (the latter in 2025), totaling 28 tackles and serving mainly as a special‑teams player. Deven Thompkins, 26, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. He has played 36 games — including seven each with the Carolina Panthers in 2024 and the Atlanta Falcons in 2025 — accumulating 42 receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown. Jonathan Brady and Chris Thomas are undrafted rookies. Laki Tasi is in his second year through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.