Las Vegas Raiders sign Laki Tasi via International Player Pathway

The Las Vegas Raiders have signed Laki Tasi, a 21-year-old former rugby player from Brisbane, Australia, as a defensive lineman through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program (IPP). Tasi, who stands at 6-foot-6 and 348 pounds, previously played for the Ashgrove GPS Rugby Club before transitioning to American football via the NFL Academy in Queensland. The IPP program, which helped produce NFL star Jordan Mailata, allows teams an exemption to carry international prospects like Tasi on their 90-man offseason roster. While Tasi is considered a raw talent and may need several years to develop, the Raiders hope he can follow a similar successful trajectory as Mailata. In a related roster move, the Raiders waived defensive end David Agoha, another IPP participant, who had not made the regular-season squad. The team sees Tasi’s athleticism and size as promising traits for a future contributor on the defensive line.