{"id":859462,"date":"2026-04-07T18:07:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T18:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/859462\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T18:07:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T18:07:16","slug":"las-vegas-sign-te-ian-thomas-to-one-year-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/859462\/","title":{"rendered":"Las Vegas Sign TE Ian Thomas to One-Year Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 30: Ian Thomas #80 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> have signed tight end Ian Thomas<\/a> to a one-year deal, ESPN\u2019s Jeremy Fowler was the first to report.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cFree agent tight end Ian Thomas<\/a> is re-signing with the Raiders on a one-year deal, per source. Thomas spent his first seven seasons with Carolina before joining Las Vegas in 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas, 29, is a former 2018 fourth-round pick who appeared in 15 games for the Raiders last season after playing seven seasons with the Carolina Panthers.<\/a> He had 13 catches for 114 yards.<\/p>\n

Free agent tight end Ian Thomas is re-signing with the Raiders on a one-year deal, per source. <\/p>\n

Thomas spent his first seven seasons with Carolina before joining Las Vegas in 2025. <\/p>\n

Raiders Sign TE Ian Thomas to One-Year Deal<\/p>\n

Just because the Raiders signed Thomas, doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019s guaranteed a roster spot.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s behind Brock Bowers<\/a> and Michael Mayer<\/a> on the depth chart and will have to compete with Carter Runyon<\/a> and Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.,<\/a> who are already on the roster.<\/p>\n

Not only that, the Raiders could look to draft a tight end during the 2026 NFL<\/a> Draft, having already met virtually<\/a> with Ole Miss TE Dae\u2019Quan Wright.<\/p>\n

The signing of Thomas will primarily be for special teams, if he makes the roster.<\/p>\n

Kirk Cousins Shares Major Praise for Brock Bowers\"Brock<\/p>\n

GettyBrock Bowers #89 of the Las Vegas Raiders.<\/p>\n

Kirk Cousins,<\/a> who\u2019s projected to start the season at quarterback for the Raiders, shared some of his initial thoughts<\/a> on teaming up with Bowers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he may be the best tight end in football,\u201d Cousins said. \u201cHopefully, we can make that a reality this fall, but we\u2019ve got to keep him healthy, just like some of the other great players on this team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cousins also added what makes Bowers special and how he\u2019s excited to have him on his side this upcoming season.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe gives us the ability to use a lot of different personnel groupings, which can allow us to be very creative with how we attack defenses. I\u2019ve always really enjoyed playing with talented tight ends because of the curveball they throw at defenses. I expect Brock to be as good of a curveball as I\u2019ve ever played with, and I can\u2019t wait to see how we can use him. Getting on the grass with him and even running routes in the air is going to be exciting to watch a guy like that go to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cousins Expects Big Things from Tyler Linderbaum\"Tyler<\/p>\n

GettyBALTIMORE, MARYLAND \u2013 AUGUST 12: Center Tyler Linderbaum<\/a> #64 of the Baltimore Ravens<\/a> looks on before the start of a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> at M&T Bank Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Raiders have another major new piece on offense: center Tyler Linderbaum,<\/a> and Cousins has major expectations and praise<\/a> for Linderbaum.<\/p>\n

\u201cTyler at center is going to be a great fit. I think he\u2019s a stud pass blocker, run blocker, I think he\u2019s going to fit great in the [outside zone] scheme. So, I can\u2019t wait to start taking snaps from him and kind of build it right there up the middle with Tyler and Ashton [Jeanty].\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

But with that high praise, Cousins is also planning to ask Linderbaum to take on more than what a center typically handles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s rare to get a center of that caliber available in the free agent market. So, typically, you\u2019re not going to find a guy that easily and so when you do, you want to take advantage. I just think his play strength, his athleticism, his toughness. He\u2019s got a lot of years of tape showing that. \u2026I plan to put a lot on him. I always told my centers, \u2018The more you can handle and the more I can be thinking about the back end, the better.\u2019 So we\u2019ll try to start building that rapport early, and I think it\u2019ll lead to some strong play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Look for the Raiders to make some noise on offense this upcoming season.<\/p>\n

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