The Las Vegas Raiders may have landed one of the NFL's most underrated undrafted gems this season, according to a deep dive by the analytics site Wide Left.
After drafting 10 players, the Raiders still had plenty of roster holes to fill. They addressed them aggressively, signing an impressive 21 undrafted free agents. Among that massive haul, several names are already generating buzz as potential contributors for the regular season.
Wide Left—known for compiling the annual consensus draft board—went beyond their top 300 prospects to highlight a handful of undrafted players who could surprisingly crack their team's 53-man roster. Topping that list for the Raiders is defensive tackle Gary Smith III, ranked second overall among the site's most underrated UDFAs.
Smith may never be a flashy playmaker, but his value lies in a time-tested NFL skill: being a reliable run-stuffer in the middle of the defensive line. As the saying goes, big bodies who can eat up space and command double teams tend to stick around—and get paid.
While Smith isn't known for elite athleticism, his 2025 film showed noticeable improvement in explosiveness and quickness. That jump likely stems from dropping 20 pounds after a season-ending injury in 2024. Still, his bread and butter remains pure strength and aggressive hand usage—exactly what you want in a space-eating nose tackle.
The Raiders' run defense was respectable last season, but the defensive line lacks proven depth. Veterans like sixth-round pick JJ Pegues and Adam Butler will likely lead the rotation, but there's a clear path for Smith to earn a roster spot. His biggest competition? Fellow rookie and seventh-round pick Brandon Cleveland, along with journeyman Brodric Martin, who has bounced around the Lions, Chiefs, and Steelers.
For context, I ranked Smith as the sixth-most likely Raiders UDFA to make the final roster. But among non-specialists not in the consensus top 300, he was the highest. That aligns perfectly with Wide Left's assessment—and they nailed exactly why Smith could be the kind of under-the-radar addition that pays off big for Las Vegas.