Apparently, when John Spytek identified the safety as a critical need for his team and said the 2026 NFL Draft class was very good and deep at the particular position, the Las Vegas Raiders general manager wasn’t fibbing.
So much so, that the Silver & Black went to the Arizona Wildcats well twice in said draft.
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Spytek orchestrated trades to snag Treydan Stukes in the second round (38th overall pick) and his tag team partner Dalton Johnson in the fifth stanza (150th overall).
Las Vegas traded down from the 36th spot with Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald going to the Houston Texans at that pick, Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood going 37th before the Raiders got their man Stukes. Three rounds later, Spytek moved up to pick 150 to draft Johnson and the Wildcat starters are reunited in Las Vegas.
It’s been since 2009 that two University of Arizona teammates were drafted by the same team, that duo was offensive tackle Eben Britton (second round, 39th overall) and wide receiver Mike Thomas (fourth round, 107th overall) and it’s Stukes’ and Johnson’s turn to give it a go.
“Being drafted is one thing, but to be drafted to a team that I get to go somewhere with my best friend and continue this ‘Bear Down Brotherhood,’ I’m super excited,” Johnson told the Arizona Daily Star after being drafted. “I called (Stukes) real quick and he couldn’t believe it. He said, ‘This is the best day of my life.’”
“It’s one thing to be drafted and I’m so grateful to be a Raider, and then on top of that, I get to do it with Stukes. Probably the best day of our lives for both of us.”
By The Numbers
Treydan Stukes, Safety, Arizona
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2025: 10 games, 52 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 4 interceptions, 6 pass deflections
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Career: (2020-25), 52 games, 206 total tackles, 1 sack, 12 tackles for loss, 7 interceptions, 29 pass deflections
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Dalton Johnson, Safety, Arizona
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2025: 12 games, 97 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 7 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
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Career: (2021-25), 49 games, 286 tackles, 3 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions, 10 pass deflections, 7 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
The synergy between the two collegiate teammates should serve them well as they embark on their professional careers in Silver & Black.
Stukes and Johnson served as mainstays for the Wildcats defense — they played a total of five seasons together (2021-25) — and the former served as a versatile nickel/slot and safety while Johnson served as a strong safety/box defender. But Arizona didn’t pigeon hole the talented defenders to one single position as both moved across the alignment to put them in the best possible position to succeed.
Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard would be wise to do the same. And there’s potential for the Wildcat tandem to be Raiders starters — although, that’s down the road and may take a season or two for that to happen.
The much-higher drafted Stukes brings standout versatility to serve as as sub package matchup machine as a deep safety, nickel/slot cornerback, and rangy ballhawk.
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While Las Vegas did well to acquire an elite slot cornerback in veteran Taron Johnson via trade, the 29-year-old defender played in 25 of 34 games the past two seasons. And manning the slot takes a physical toll as it’s equal parts cover man and hammer of a tackler as a run defender. Stukes brings blistering speed (4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine) and good size at nearly 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds with him to the NFL game.
Stukes having a strong camp and offseason, alongside already being 25 and ready made for the pro game due to experience and age, can push Isaiah Pola-Mao for a starting spot. The 26-year-old (27 on June 30) was a 17-game starter last season (92 total tackles, two interceptions) but didn’t have a strong 2025 campaign despite the numbers.
Johnson, meanwhile, faces a tough task of displacing box safety Jeremy Chinn. The 28-year-old veteran started the 15 games he played in 2025 and produced 114 total tackles, one sack, and two forced fumbles for Las Vegas. Like his fellow starting safety Pola-Mao, Chinn stands 6-foot-3 and is the heavier of the two at 220 (Pola-Mao weighs in at 203 pounds). However, the 2026 campaign marks the final year of a two-year contract Chinn signed as a free agent last offseason.
And that’s where Johnson can make his mark as a high-impact tackling machine. Despite being 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Johnson is a physical defender who makes his presence known near the line of scrimmage as he led Arizona’s defense in total tackles the last two seasons (97 in 2025, 94 in 2024) and has a penchant to jar the football lose with seven career forced fumbles. He also showcased his hands with four interceptions (same as Stukes) in his final season as a Wildcat.
Expect both Stukes and Johnson to cut their teeth on Joe DeCamillis’ special teams units in their rookie seasons, though. Especially if the veterans (Pola-Mao and Chinn) get first-team reps and earn starting nods once more at safety. But getting work on special teams — kick return, kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage — isn’t a new thing for the Arizona products.
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Both played on the variety of special teams units as Wildcats and have the ability to become core special teams types, regardless of where they were drafted.
As a late-round pick, that’s Johnson’s cleanest path to a 53-man roster: Taking his physical play style and ability to tackle in DeCamillis’ groups. Johnson is known to bring an infections attitude and energy to special teams and defense isn’t the only time a defender can force fumbles. Johnson bringing that same grit into punching the ball out will help both Leonard’s defense and DeCamillis’ special teams crews.
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