The Las Vegas Raiders turned their attention to the undrafted free agent market after the 2025 NFL draft and one of the players they landed is an intriguing prospect.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders inked Kansas cornerback Mello Dotson to an undrafted free agent deal after he went undrafted. Dotson was projected by some experts to be a Day 3 pick, so his slide out of the draft was at least somewhat surprising.
Dotson proved to be an electric playmaker for Kansas, tallying nine interceptions over the past two seasons, four of which he took to the house (two in each season). He also finished tied for first in the Big 12 with five interceptions last season and posted an impressive 18 passes defensed since 2023.
“Overall, Dotson is a talented cover corner with the instincts, maturity, and zone ability to compete at the next level,” The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler, who gave Dotson a Day 3 grade, wrote in a scouting report. “While he may not have elite size, overwhelming physicality, or the traits of a high-level man corner, his reactive movement and playmaking ability give him a chance to contribute as a rotational corner early in his career. If he can improve his strength and discipline, he has the upside to develop into a key rotational defender in the right defensive system.”
Fowler notes that Dotson doesn’t have elite size, but he’s doing just fine in that department, standing at 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds.
The Raiders have a fairly wide open situation at cornerback, so Dotson landed in the right spot. Las Vegas drafted Darien Porter, who will compete for a starting job with the likes of Eric Stokes, who has been a disappointment during his career, and Decamerion Richardson, who is a total wild card. Jakorian Bennet figures to be the solution at one boundary spot, and Darnay Holmes could man the slot.
Now, that’s not to say Dotson is going to land himself a starting job out of the gate, but he does have a better shot than most undrafted free agents of making the Raiders’ roster out of training camp given the uncertainty at the position.
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