A pipe dream that the Las Vegas Raiders fanbase had can officially be put to an end after recent news
The Las Vegas Raiders fan base fell for defensive tackle Laki Tasi as a fan favorite, and now he’s been released and signed by the Tennessee Titans.
The Las Vegas Raiders have waived defensive lineman Laki Tasi, the former International Pathway Program player who became a fan favorite during his time in Las Vegas. Tasi has signed with the Tennessee Titans, ending a run with the Raiders that never quite came to fruition despite the massive upside he brought to the table.
Tasi started as a defensive lineman during his first year with the organization. Former head coach Pete Carroll then tried to convert him to the offensive line, and this season he was back on the defensive side under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard. It obviously didn’t work out.
Why the Raiders moved on
A lot of Raiders fans will be upset at this move. Tasi was a pipe dream for a fan base that believed he could step into the nose tackle role, considering he’s 6’6, 373 pounds, and the Raiders are now in a 3-4 scheme without a true nose tackle on the roster. But this is probably for the better.
The defensive tackle spot was crowded well above him. Adam Butler, Benito Jones, and Brandon Cleveland were all ahead of Tasi on the depth chart. Beyond them, Jonah Laulu, JJ Pegues, and Gary Smith III all sit at the defensive tackle position as well. Every one of those players has played valuable football at this level. Tasi probably wouldn’t have seen the field very often, if at all.
The Raiders can now use that roster spot to address other needs. They recently worked out a running back and could bring in tight ends for the back end of the roster. To be quite honest, they need that depth elsewhere more than they need a seventh defensive tackle.
Tennessee is getting a raw but gifted athlete
The Titans are getting a player who is extremely athletic, has great size, and could develop into something with the right coaching. Almost 6’7 and nearly 400 pounds, Tasi moves well on his feet. That combination of size and athleticism is something you just can’t teach, and it’s not something you can find anywhere.
Tennessee has a track record of developing defensive tackles, too. They have one of the best in the entire league in Jeffrey Simmons. If any organization can mold Tasi into a contributor, the Titans have the infrastructure to do it.
He will likely be placed on the Titans’ practice squad eventually. Making the 53-man roster seems like a long shot.
What this means for Raiders fans
Tasi was a fan favorite, and a lot of the fan base truly believed in him. That’s not to say he can’t still develop into something special, because there is a path where that happens. It just doesn’t look like it’s going to happen in silver and black.
