The Las Vegas Raiders made sweeping changes this offseason, bringing in head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek—two leaders with proven track records and clear visions for success. That reset meant moving on from fan favorites like Robert Spillane and Nate Hobbs, but in their place, the new regime added a promising mix of veteran free agents and a deep, 11-man draft class.
Among the most unexpected and intriguing additions, however, is a name few had heard before spring: Laki Tasi.
Tasi, a 6’6″, 369-pound former rugby player from Brisbane, Australia, joined the Raiders through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Until recently, he had never played a down of American football. In fact, he first learned about the sport—and the IPP—thanks to a burger shop owner back home, who saw his physical potential and pointed him toward the same program that helped launch Philadelphia Eagles lineman Jordan Mailata.
“I didn’t know who Jordan Mailata was,” Tasi told ESPN. “Or what the NFL even was, really. But once I looked it up on YouTube, I realized how big this thing really is.”
Tasi’s journey from Queensland Samoa community rugby to the Raiders’ facility is the kind of underdog story that resonates in NFL locker rooms. Originally brought in as a defensive lineman, he has since been moved to offensive guard—a shift that has only intensified the intrigue around his development.
From Rugby to Las Vegas Raiders: How Laki Tasi Became Pete Carroll’s Favorite Offseason Story in Las Vegas
“He walked in knowing nothing about football,” Carroll said during a recent press conference. “But he’s made tremendous progress. He’s enormous—the biggest guy you’ve ever seen—and he’s just so fun to watch. We’ve got to keep an eye on him. It’s an exciting process.”
Despite his rawness, Tasi possesses rare tools: 34-inch arms, an 81.5-inch wingspan, and the kind of power and agility honed by years of top-tier rugby competition. Former NFL executive Scott Pioli praised his upside, pointing out that his physical gifts and mental toughness give him a real chance to grow into a valuable NFL lineman.
“He’s got a strong and intriguing combination of developmental tools, stature, and mindset,” Pioli said. “The kind of guy who could thrive in the trenches with the right coaching.”
And that’s exactly what Carroll and his staff are banking on. While Tasi’s position switch isn’t set in stone—Raiders DL coach Rob Leonard has hinted to SI’s Hondo Carpenter he could move back to defense—the coaching staff is clearly excited about what he might become.
The Raiders have real depth concerns at guard, with Dylan Parham and Jordan Meredith both entering contract years and veteran Alex Cappa showing signs of decline. Rookie Caleb Rogers adds another unproven layer. If Tasi develops as hoped, he could become a long-term solution on the interior line—and with his IPP status, he won’t count against the team’s 53-man roster this season, giving the Raiders a rare opportunity to develop him without pressure.
The 21-year-old’s story is still just beginning, but he’s already turned heads in his first few months in the NFL. In a roster overhaul full of headline-grabbing moves, Laki Tasi might end up being one of the most fascinating gambles the Raiders have made.