Raiders Under Contract: DT Byron Young

The Las Vegas Raiders were hopeful when they selected defensive tackle Byron Young in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, as the club was in need of improving the interior of its defensive line.

The Raiders signed Young to a four-year, $5.6-million rookie contract.

Despite Young being the second highest-paid defensive tackle on the roster, he played just six games in his rookie season. 

Young played a combined 62 defensive snaps in the Raiders' first three games of the season despite having missed his first two weeks of training camp after being placed on the physically unable to perform list. He was then inactive for Week 4 and after that, played just three more games, taking just eight, 13, and 16 defensive snaps. Young was inactive for the rest of the season after his final game in Week 7.

While third-round picks are typically expected to be utilized a fair amount in their first year, Young was part of a defensive tackle room that just happened to get better across the board this season, making for a lot of competition. John Jenkins and Jerry Tillery each had very strong 2023 campaigns, and even defensive end Tyree Wilson showed he might just belong inside rather than on the edge.