Laulu embracing opportunity to prove himself

Defensive tackle is taking a “nothing is guaranteed” approach to camp

Situations change quickly in the NFL, and Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu is a great example. At this time last year, the 2024 seventh-round pick was fighting for a roster spot with the Indianapolis Colts, only to get cut at the end of training camp and claimed by the Raiders.

In his hometown of Las Vegas, Laulu exceeded expectations as a rookie by becoming a starter down the stretch of last season after Christian Wilkins got injured. Now that Wilkins has been released, the Sin City native has a chance to be a first-stringer for the entire campaign.

That’s quite the turnaround in just one year, but he isn’t taking the opportunity for granted.

“I’ve always felt like I had something to prove,” Laulu said after practice on July 29. “I always wanted to be able to take care of my family. I always felt like I had a chip on my shoulder. It’s just a mindset of never being satisfied. … Nobody cares about my rookie year, none of that. I didn’t do anything, to be honest. So, I’m looking at what’s next because I want to make a name for myself.

“I want to be a dominant player in this league. And for me to even think about being complacent or anything like that when I’m next to players like Maxx Crosby, Adam Butler, all these guys, E-Rob [Elandon Roberts], D-White [Devin]. To try to get complacent and think, ‘Okay, oh, I’m running with them on with the ones or whatever,’ I never think about it like that because I want to be a guy. And if you want to be that guy, you got to put that work in because tomorrow is not guaranteed.”

As mentioned above, the second-year pro is in a much different situation than he was as a rookie. Instead of having to learn defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s scheme on the fly, he gets a chance to master it and feel more comfortable in the system.

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

“I think one thing that has changed a little bit is my confidence in myself. Last year, especially as a rookie and the situation I was in, I was trying to catch up,” Laulu explained. “I felt like I was so far behind. And this year, one thing that I think has changed, and I’ve talked to PG (Graham) about this personally, is having unbridled confidence.

“It’s happened sometimes where at practice I’ll get into a mode where you feel like nobody can block you. And that’s something that you can’t really coach, that’s something that comes from experience, that I feel like a lot of dominant NFL players can say that they felt that way.

“…I’m not saying that I’m the best in the world and all this, but I’m saying it does make a big difference of having that confidence of visually seeing yourself what you’re about to do, anticipating what the offense is about to do, and understanding how you’re about to attack it and make a play.”

On top of being more familiar with the scheme and the NFL in general, Laulu’s belief in himself has been reinforced by what his teammates and coaches have had to say about him over the spring and summer.

From fellow defensive linemen Crosby and Butler to head coach Pete Carroll and Graham, plenty of people in the building have been singing the young defensive tackle’s praises recently. But, at the same time, he isn’t letting that get to his head and continues to embody a blue-collar approach to his craft.

“I feel like I’m not supposed to be here, and through the grace of God and my hard work, I got to be here,” Laulu said. “I feel like it’d be pretty easy to have imposter syndrome next to Maxx Crosby. …Same with AB (Butler), like seeing those guys and seeing how sharpened they are within the game, their skill, their mindset and just knowing what the offense is about to do.

“…There’s still a little imposter syndrome here and there. But I think that keeps me humble and keeps me wanting to continue to get better. Because at the end of the day, that’s what I want to do, is continue to get better every day. I know I’m not anywhere near being a finished product and nowhere near being the best I could be.

“So, I’m excited to see how training camp goes and just continuing to work and get better at what I want to get better at. And when we get to the first game this year, going out there and just doing our thing.”

Laulu still has to prove himself over the next month, which he clearly understands. But if all goes to plan, he’ll be a key fixture in the trenches on Sept. 7 in New England.