Klint Kubiak highlights three undrafted free agents after Raiders’ preseason look vs. Arizona

In the early stretch of the NFL preseason, one theme never really changes: jobs are still on the line. On the morning after the Raiders’ preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, head coach Klint Kubiak was asked which undrafted free agents have separated themselves so far, and he named three players who have made enough plays to earn attention from the coaching staff.

Kubiak’s first pick was edge rusher Cian Slone, an undrafted addition fighting to carve out a role in a position group where teams often carry depth through the first six weeks. Slone’s presence, as described by the coach, was enough to stand out in a film-and-practice environment where the margin for error is small for players outside the drafted group.

The other two standouts were wide receivers Chase Roberts and E.J. Williams. In a preseason setting, wideouts fighting for roster spots are typically measured by more than just catching a pass. Coaches evaluate route clarity, separation, special teams readiness, and whether the player understands the offense quickly enough to operate in game plans that vary snap-to-snap.

The act of a head coach naming undrafted players matters because it indicates where the staff is leaning when it comes time to make hard roster decisions. During training camp and the preseason, those decisions are shaped by consistent performance in practices, reliability in the playbook, and the ability to make an impact when the reps and opportunities narrow.

For the Raiders, the larger roster-bubble context is straightforward. Undrafted free agents are usually competing for limited spots on the back end of the depth chart, on special teams, or as developmental bodies who can still win snaps. Publicly identifying Slone, Roberts, and Williams frames their camp and preseason work as something the team has noticed rather than something that will be decided only after the final cuts.

For the players themselves, being named by the coach can also influence how they are deployed in the remaining preseason work. While the league’s exact snap distribution changes by opponent and coaching philosophy, an undrafted player highlighted by the head coach typically receives additional looks designed to answer specific questions: can they beat the coverage, can they sustain effort across multiple drives, and can they handle increased responsibility.

What to watch next is whether these three continue to produce in game action as the preseason moves forward. Coach-specific praise is most meaningful when it translates to repeatable plays and a steadily growing role, particularly for a wide receiver trying to hold off other young challengers and for an edge rusher seeking the kind of disruption that changes the outcome of individual downs.

From an Arizona perspective, the matchup also reflects the nature of preseason competition for both teams. Even when the main-season narrative is about established starters, preseason games are where rosters get tested, and Raiders players on the margin have a chance to show that they belong when the next roster cut approaches.