LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Las Vegas Raiders have signed defensive end Patrick Johnson, linebacker Buddy Johnson and wide receiver Deven Thompkins, the club announced Monday. In corresponding moves, the team waived wide receiver Jonathan Brady, linebacker Chris Thomas and defensive tackle Laki Tasi.
Patrick Johnson
Patrick Johnson joins the Raiders for his sixth NFL season. He spent the 2025 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, appearing in nine games and recording three tackles, 1.0 sack, two quarterback hits and one tackle for loss, along with five special teams tackles.
The 6-foot-2, 248-pound defensive end has appeared in 70 career games with two starts, playing for the Eagles (2021–25) and New York Giants (2024). He entered the league as a seventh-round pick (234th overall) by Philadelphia in the 2021 NFL Draft. Over his career, Johnson has recorded 14 tackles, 1.0 sack, six quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The Chattanooga, Tenn., native played four seasons at Tulane (2017–20), where he led the nation in sacks during his senior season with 10.0 and became the program’s career sack leader with 24.5.
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Buddy Johnson
Buddy Johnson joins the Raiders for his fifth NFL season. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round (140th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound linebacker has appeared in 33 career games with the Steelers (2021), Dallas Cowboys (2023–25) and Indianapolis Colts (2025), totaling four tackles and one tackle for loss on defense, along with 23 special teams tackles.
Johnson began the 2025 season on the Cowboys’ practice squad and was elevated for one game before signing to the Colts’ active roster in Week 5, where he played in 12 games.
The Dallas, Texas, native played four seasons at Texas A&M (2017–20), where he was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award. He led the team in tackles (86), tackles for loss (8.5) and forced fumbles (2), and his 4.0 sacks ranked second among Aggies that season.
Deven Thompkins
Deven Thompkins joins the Raiders for his fifth NFL season. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. The 5-foot-8, 155-pound wide receiver has appeared in 36 career games with the Buccaneers (2022–23), Carolina Panthers (2024) and Atlanta Falcons (2025), totaling 29 receptions for 162 yards (5.6 avg.) and one touchdown, along with 13 carries for 94 yards (7.2 avg.).
Thompkins has also served as a returner, recording 368 yards on 42 punt returns (8.8 avg.) and 1,005 yards on 45 kickoff returns (22.3 avg.).
The Fort Myers, Fla., native played four seasons at Utah State (2018–21), where he set single-season school records in 2021 in receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,704). He also tied the school record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games (6) and 100-yard receiving games in a season (9).
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