T
NFL
NFL News

Raiders Add Patrick Johnson, Buddy Johnson and Deven Thompkins

Sarah Williams
Sarah Williams
NFL Editor
12:21 AM
NFL
Raiders Add Patrick Johnson, Buddy Johnson and Deven Thompkins
Las Vegas added defensive end Patrick Johnson, linebacker Buddy Johnson and wide receiver Deven Thompkins, according to Yahoo Sports. The moves give the Raiders extra competition and depth across three different position groups.

What happened: Yahoo Sports reported that the Las Vegas Raiders signed defensive end Patrick Johnson, linebacker Buddy Johnson and wide receiver Deven Thompkins. The team announced the three additions Monday, giving Las Vegas new bodies at edge, linebacker and wide receiver as roster competition continues.

Watch the highlights:

Why it matters: This is a depth-and-evaluation move across multiple phases rather than a single headline signing. Adding one defender up front, one off-ball linebacker and one receiver suggests the Raiders are widening competition in areas where practice reps, special teams utility and camp availability matter. The source does not state contract terms, corresponding roster moves or projected roles, so the confirmed takeaway is limited to the signings themselves.

Roster impact: Patrick Johnson's addition gives the Raiders another defensive end option. Buddy Johnson adds to the linebacker room. Deven Thompkins joins the wide receiver group. Without confirmed depth-chart placement, it would be too strong to frame any of the three as locked into a major role. The immediate consequence is competition: more players for coaches to evaluate, more pressure on the back end of position groups, and more flexibility if the team wants to manage practice workload.

Tournament impact: In NFL terms, these moves matter less as instant starting-lineup news and more as preparation for the long roster process. Teams use this stretch to test whether new arrivals can handle scheme demands, contribute on special teams and survive the cutdown math. A signing can become important quickly if injuries, performance gaps or special teams needs open a path, but the source provides no evidence that any of those conditions are already in play.

What to watch: The next meaningful indicators will be practice usage, preseason snaps and whether any of the three players appear in core special teams roles. For defensive end and linebacker additions, coaches often value assignment reliability and coverage-team value as much as pure position depth. For a receiver, return ability, blocking and timing with quarterbacks can matter alongside catches in preseason games. None of that is confirmed yet, but those are the areas where the signings will become more informative.

Confidence: Confirmed by the source is that the Raiders signed Patrick Johnson, Buddy Johnson and Deven Thompkins, and that the team announced the moves Monday. Still needing follow-up are contract details, any corresponding roster transactions, practice roles and whether the signings change the Raiders' depth chart in a lasting way.

Share this article

Comments

0

No comments yet

Be the first to share your thoughts!