6 UFL players to consider signing, Crowder-Graham reunion coming?

With the spring league wrapped up, there are a few players who could be added to the roster ahead of training camp

The Las Vegas Raiders’ roster still has a few holes on it, and the UFL recently wrapped up its 2025 season. The spring football league has served as the NFL’s minor leagues to a certain extent, as there have been a few players who stood out in the UFL and got the call-up, so to speak.

For example, former Raiders first-round pick Damon Arnette played for the Houston Roughnecks over the last few months and is reportedly going to sign with the Houston Texans.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few spring league standouts who could potentially fill holes in Las Vegas.

For each player’s NFL experience, TC means they participated in training camp for the respective team but didn’t make the roster, PS means they were on the practice squad but never got called up, and no letters following a team name means they were on the 53-man roster at some point.

Willie Harvey, LB

NFL Experience: 2019 UDFA, Cleveland Browns (2019-2021), Dallas Cowboys (TC 2024)

While the Silver and Black recently signed Germaine Pratt to improve the team’s weak linebacker corps, Pratt is more of a run defender, and the position group could still use a coverage backer. Harvey led all UFL linebackers with an elite 90.9 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, surrendering just 113 receiving yards in 11 games while tying for second with three forced incompletions and recording the second-most coverage stops (12). Granted, the St. Louis Battlehawk is already 29 years old, but he could be a good short-term answer for the Raiders this season.

Tae Crowder, LB

NFL Experience: 2020 7th round pick, New York Giants (2020-2022), Pittsburgh Steelers (2022), Los Angeles Chargers (TC 2023), Tennessee Titans (PS 2023)

Part of what makes Crowder a potential fit in Las Vegas is that he has experience playing for defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Those two worked together in New York for two seasons when the linebacker broke into the league. In the UFL this spring, he earned the second-highest PFF coverage grade among linebackers at 84.3, due in part to recording two interceptions, one that he returned for a touchdown. Crowder also had the second-lowest passer rating when targeted at the position (49.6).

Kyree Woods, NB

NFL Experience: None

Unlike the other players listed here, Woods doesn’t have any NFL experience outside of a few tryouts. But the Raiders are searching for answers at nickelback, and it might be time to give the San Diego State product his first shot in the big leagues. According to PFF, he led all corners with 0.46 yards per coverage snap allowed and a 38.3 passer rating when covering the slot. He also has decent size at 6-foot-0 and 185 pounds, and he has some versatility to line up on the boundary if needed.

Kedrick Whitehead, NB

NFL Experience: 2023 UDFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TC 2023)

General manager John Spytek has some familiarity with Whitehead since the Delaware product was a rookie minicamp invite who earned a spot on the training camp roster a couple of years ago in Tampa Bay. The Michigan Panther just capped off an impressive spring, earning a spot on the All-UFL team as a defensive back and becoming the league’s Special Teams Player of the Year. He made a name for himself as a nickelback this season, recording the third-most coverage snaps at slot corner while surrendering just 115 yards in coverage to rank second with 0.53 yards allowed per coverage snap, according to PFF.

Bradlee Anae, EDGE

NFL Experience: 2020 5th round pick, Dallas Cowboys (2020-2021), New York Jets (2022-2023), Atlanta Falcons (TC 2024), Jets (PS 2024)

Anae was an intriguing pass-rusher coming out of Utah after he racked up 29.5 career sacks in college, including 13 during his senior season. Obviously, things didn’t turn out well in the NFL for the former Ute, but he did just lead all UFL edge rushers with a 23.2 percent pass-rush win rate, per PFF. That could be worth kicking the tires on since the Raiders lack depth on the edge, and Anae fits head coach Pete Carroll’s size preference for the position at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds.

Jacob Saylors, RB

NFL Experience: 2023 UDFA, Cincinnati Bengals (TC 2023), Atlanta Falcons (PS 2023), New York Giants (TC 2024), Cleveland Browns (TC 2024)

Las Vegas could afford to add some depth in the backfield behind rookie Ashton Jeanty, and Saylors is a young back who is worth taking a deeper look at in training camp. The 25-year-old had the second-most rushing yards (538) in the UFL and was third with six rushing touchdowns. Additionally, he led the league’s running backs with 30 missed tackles forced and was fifth in yards after contact per carry (3.21), per PFF.