The Las Vegas Raiders are entering the 2025 campaign looking like a completely different team. Their changes on offense have been highlighted quite a bit throughout the offseason, but their defense also has several new faces. One guy who’s a holdover from last year’s team is Kyu Blu Kelly, and it looks like he’s making a charge for a bigger role with the Raiders this upcoming season.
Kelly bounced around the league early in his career before landing with Las Vegas, where he seems to be making some serious progress towards earning more snaps on defense. When discussing the opportunity he has in front of him, Kelly revealed how his reframed mindset has helped him put his best foot forward.
Kyu Blu Kelly Making a Name for Himself in the Raiders Cornerback Room
Kelly was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, but he didn’t make their team, leading him to spend time with the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Washington Commanders as a rookie. After getting cut by the Commanders in August last year, Kelly latched on with the Raiders, where he spent the majority of the season on their practice squad.
Kelly only played in four games with Las Vegas last year, and he didn’t make much of an impact, racking up just two tackles. However, he’s been turning some heads early on in training camp, and with the Raiders enduring some serious turnover in their secondary this offseason, Kelly could be playing his way into a bigger role with the team.
In their preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks, Kelly picked up two tackles and pass deflections each, highlighting how he held up in coverage when the ball came his way. It continued what has been a strong start to the new season for Kelly, and he recently revealed what he’s done to help him take a step forward on the field.
“The best thing I’ve done is just take it day by day, not think too far into the future,” Kelly said when speaking with reporters on Tuesday. “Put my best foot forward each and every day, and wherever they put me, 1s, 2s, 3s, whatever reps I get, I’ll make the most of them. I think I’ve done that thus far.”
Kyu Blu Kelly Closing in on a Roster Spot with the Raiders
GettyKyu Blu Kelly is enjoying the opportunity to compete for a starting role with the Raiders
With Kelly continuing to show out for Las Vegas, he is closing in on earning a roster spot with the team. He may not start right away, as Darien Porter, Eric Stokes, and Darnay Holmes seem to be the top three options at cornerback, but if he can earn a depth role, he could rotate onto the field for several snaps a game.
There’s no doubt that Kelly still has work to do when it comes to solidifying his spot in the Raiders’ cornerback room, but it seems like the work he put in behind the scenes last year is beginning to pay off. He will look to put together another strong outing when Las Vegas takes on the San Francisco 49ers in their second preseason game.
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