Jonah Laulu

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		34	5.0	86	10
2025		17	4.0	51	5
2024		17	1.0	35	5

Updated Jun 6, 2026

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Raiders struck gold with Jonah Laulu's four-year, $4.1M extension, earning an A- CVI that represents one of the best value plays at defensive tackle this offseason. Locking up a rotational player for just $1.0M AAV is shrewd roster construction, especially when most teams are paying $3-4M annually for similar interior depth pieces. At 25, Laulu sits in his athletic prime with room to expand his role within Las Vegas's defensive scheme, making this deal even more attractive from a developmental standpoint. The contract structure heavily favors the Raiders with minimal guaranteed money ($0.1M), giving them flexibility to part ways if needed while securing a reliable rotational contributor at basement prices. This is exactly the type of under-the-radar signing that allows teams to allocate cap space toward marquee positions while maintaining quality depth across the roster.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the A band — a quick read on where Jonah's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Jonah Laulu is a second-year defensive tackle for the Las Vegas Raiders, still carving out his identity as a rotational interior disruptor at just 25 years old. Earning a D+ overall grade, Laulu sits below the threshold of a reliable starter but shows enough flashes to remain a developmental piece worth monitoring. His trajectory from an F in 2024 to a C in 2025 signals genuine growth, even if the ceiling remains undefined. His tackle rate is the clearest bright spot, logging 3.00 tackles per game against an NFL average of 2.30 — a legitimate above-average mark for an interior lineman. His sack rate of 0.24 per game edges above the NFL average of 0.21, suggesting he can occasionally threaten the backfield. The concern lies in his TFL rate of 0.29 per game, trailing the league average of 0.35, meaning he struggles to consistently finish plays behind the line of scrimmage. Think of Laulu as a younger, rawer version of a fringe starter — someone who wins with effort and positioning rather than elite athleticism. If he can push his TFL rate closer to league average, he becomes a legitimate two-down rotation piece. Watch for improved pass-rush development in 2026; that's the variable that separates roster filler from a genuine contributor on a retooled Raiders defensive front.

How Jonah Compares at the Position

Jonah Laulu ranks 64th of 218 graded defensive tackles by performance. That slots Jonah between Elijah Garcia (D+) just ahead and Jay Toia (D+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Jonah Laulu has quietly emerged as one of the more compelling storylines on the Las Vegas Raiders' defensive line heading into the 2026 season, with media narratives framing him as a legitimate surprise contributor rather than a depth afterthought. His fourth sack of the 2025 campaign — punctuated by an exuberant on-field celebration — generated genuine fan engagement and helped humanize him as a personality worth following. Feature coverage highlighting his Las Vegas roots and his journey from seventh-round obscurity to defensive standout has given him a feel-good underdog arc that resonates strongly with both local and national audiences. The 'best-kept secret' label attached to him by Raiders insiders suggests internal organizational confidence that has begun to leak into broader media circles, elevating his profile beyond what his contract value alone would suggest. While he remains a developmental player without the statistical résumé of an established starter, the current media climate around Laulu is notably warm, and sustained pass-rush production in 2026 could push him into a far more prominent public conversation.