Jonah Laulu's ascent: Transforming from a late-round draft choice into a prominent defensive player for the Raiders
Raiders' Jonah Laulu Shines Amidst Team Struggles
Jonah Laulu, the defensive tackle for the Las Vegas Raiders, has been making waves in the NFL this season. After being waived by the Colts on Aug. 27, 2022, the Raiders picked up Laulu and he's been a force to reckon with ever since.
Laulu began to earn his role in offseason and preseason practices, impressing both his teammates and coaches. His hard work paid off as he started seven games last season on a defense ravaged by injuries. This year, Laulu has already racked up three sacks in just two games, including taking down New England quarterback Drake Maye once in the season-opening victory and twice against Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert in Monday night's game.
Despite his success, Laulu struggles with impostor syndrome, a condition where one doubts their qualifications for their work position. However, he's been working tirelessly to be consistent and his best every day to overcome this. His teammate, star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, has praised Laulu's hard work and improvement.
Quarterback Geno Smith, who passed for 362 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots in the previous game, has also been impressed by Laulu's performance. Smith, who tied a career high with three interceptions in the loss to the Chargers, has been reviewing the video from the game to improve his performance.
Coach Pete Carroll is equally excited about Laulu's potential. He was impressed by Laulu's performance in the offseason and believes that Laulu will be an integral part of the Raiders' plan against the mobile quarterback they will face on Sunday.
Whether it's Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariota under center for the opposing team, Laulu will be ready. Daniels is not expected to practice until at least Friday due to a knee injury, but the Raiders staff has knowledge about Mariota's capabilities. The Raiders team has six sacks this season, tied for eighth in the NFL, so they will be looking to add to that tally against the mobile quarterback.
Laulu was drafted by Indianapolis in the seventh round in 2024 out of Oklahoma, but his time with the Colts was brief. Regardless, Laulu has proven himself to be a valuable asset to the Raiders and a player to watch in the NFL.
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