The Raiders are hoping to improve their pass rush in 2026, and the addition of third-round defensive end Keyron Crawford was the team’s most aggressive move of the offseason (other than not trading Maxx Crosby) in their efforts to make it happen.
Crawford has legitimate upside as a pass rusher and the Raiders’ decision to waive Charles Snowden on Saturday only clears the path for Crawford a little more.
But according to former Raiders offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy, Crawford’s presence in the building wasn’t the only reason the team parted ways with Snowden.
“I heard as far as Snowden was concerned, there was some off field issues that he had to handle, and they probably want to steer clear of that,” Kennedy said on the Locked on Raiders Squad Show podcast. “It makes sense when you’re building chemistry.”
Kennedy didn’t elaborate on Snowden’s situation, but the 28-year-old defensive end does have a legal history since joining the Raiders in 2023. On December 10, 2024, police found Snowden asleep behind the wheel of his SUV, which was reportedly hanging over a retaining wall. Snowden’s blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, but he later reached a deal to avoid conviction by completing classes and paying fines.
The good news for the Raiders outside of Crawford’s arrival is that they have another rookie defensive end creating buzz in his first week with the team, despite being an undrafted free agent.
“[The Raiders] traded away Tyree Wilson, then they released Charles Snowden… for them to do that, you have to at least be confident in somebody on that roster to fill that spot. To me, I think it’s this guy Cian Slone,” Renz said on Chat Sports’ Raiders Report.
“The other thing that’s really telling about [Slone] is he got the most guaranteed money out of all the Raiders’ UDFAs. Money is probably the no. 1 thing I look at when you’re talking about undrafted free agents.”
Slone was projected to be a Day 3 pick or undrafted free agent going into the 2026 draft and was clearly a player the Raiders prioritized following the draft.
NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein projected Slone as a “priority free agent” in his pre-draft analysis and said the North Carolina State defensive end could develop into a standout on special teams.
“Slone plays with a red-hot urgency that is rarely matched by opponents,” Zierlein said prior to the draft. “He’s a stand-up edge rusher with good play recognition. He challenges blocks with aggressive first actions but makes hunting the football the priority. While he’s a capable combatant at the point of attack, his lack of range and short-area agility could limit his impact as a playmaker. Slone’s energy and relentlessness fuel his secondary rush but he lacks the skill of a productive NFL rusher. Special-teams standout might be his route to a roster spot.
Zierlein also broke down Slone’s strengths and weaknesses headed into the draft. In short, Zierlein seems to view Slone as a high energy player who doesn’t necessarily have the physical traits to be an elite edge defender at the NFL level…
Slone’s Strengths
- Motor runs hot and he takes no plays off.
- Good secondary rush effort.
- Attempts to trigger false-steps using head and foot fakes upfield.
- Explodes punch into all comers with good ferocity.
- Dominates tight ends at the point of attack.
- Rarely lingers on blocks and is quick to attack ball-carriers.
- Showed kick-cover talent in 2024 at Utah State.
Slone’s Weaknesses
- Missing tools to trim NFL edges.
- Grass-pounding upfield rush lacks functional burst.
- Below-average speed-to-power conversions and inside moves.
- Engulfed when blocker’s length finds him first.
- Lacks short-space athleticism to be a dependable tackler.
x: @raidersbeat
Snowden always worried me with his off field, and locker room issues. Good player between the lines, not irreplaceable. Losing Snowden and Tyree Wilson is a setback, until someone gets between the lines and shows they can play. Crawford has not been playing football very long, and Sloane is a long shot undrafted guy, who grades out as ST / role player in the defense. I think the conversion to the 3-4 defense is the other factor here, Wilson doesn’t seem to play well inside, with his size, that’s a concern, he should have been a match up nightmare.