With John Spytek at the helm of the Las Vegas Raiders, changes can always be expected, especially after the first preseason game. The Silver and Black already made a move on Saturday, signing Foley Fatukasi to replace an injured Brennan Jackson. But they were back with more moves on Sunday.
Las Vegas announced the signing of experienced wide receiver Noah Brown, who will certainly factor in to the ongoing wide receiver competition taking place during Raiders training camp and in the preseason. But signing him came at the expense of a veteran player earlier than expected.
Defensive tackle Benito Jones was added to the roster back in May, and the knee-jerk reaction was that he'll be a part of the interior rotation. As things went along, though, it became clear that he was going to have to fight for his job this summer. But nobody saw him getting cut this soon.
Such is life in the NFL.
Raiders sign experienced WR Noah Brown, release veteran DT Benito Jones
Jones was given an opportunity to show his stuff in Las Vegas, as he participated in all of OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and training camp. But after just one preseason contest, in which he logged no stats in 15 defensive snaps, the Raiders cut ties with him. Most thought he'd stick until cutdown day.
Others thought he'd make the team. Neither of those turned out to be the case.
This move, barring another, practically guarantees J.J. Pegues' roster spot, and it makes things less murky for young players like Brandon Cleveland, Treven Ma'ae and Gary Smith III to stick around with the Silver and Black, whether that be on the 53-man roster or on the practice squad.
Brown being added at this juncture is quite interesting. The top four receivers -- Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and Malik Benson -- are all locked in for the Raiders. But the last spot or two are definitely up for grabs, and there are no shortage of players vying for a spot on the team.
After spending the last two seasons with the Washington Commanders, Brown is trying to stave off his NFL mortality by signing in Las Vegas. In 2024, Brown was placed on IR with a kidney injury. In 2025, he was put on IR twice, once for a groin injury and another time for a rib injury.
In 15 games across two campaigns with the Commanders, though, Brown totaled 40 catches for 536 yards and a touchdown, with that score coming on an improbable game-winner against the Chicago Bears in Week 8 of 2024. Yes, that one. If you don't recall, here's a video to jog your memory.
It's not like he was setting the world on fire, but Brown is a solid 6-foot-2 and 225-pound wideout who can line up out wide and in the slot. He's got some skins on the wall at the NFL level, as he played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2017 to 2022 and for the Houston Texans in 2023.
He's been around the league for a while, and although Brown has no obvious connections to the staff or other players on the team, it's not unreasonable to think that he could stick around in Las Vegas, with the caveat being that he stays healthy. Unfortunately, he hasn't done that in years.
But he'll still have a chance to dethrone players like Dont'e Thornton Jr., Shedrick Jackson, Deven Thompkins, E.J. Williams, Dareke Young and Chase Roberts for that WR5/6 role. It won't be easy for him, especially with how late he joined, but the Raiders are clearly looking at options.
Maybe Brown will become one.
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