The Las Vegas Raiders announced the signings of fullback Connor Heyward and wide receiver Dareke Young.
Heyward reportedly received a two-year contract from the team that includes a maximum value of $5.5 million and $2 million in guarantees.
He spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he teamed up with his brother, All-Pro defensive tackle Cameron Heyward.
The younger Heyward is coming off a productive 2025 season in which he set career highs in rushing attempts (15), rushing yards (43) and rushing touchdowns (two). He originally played tight end for the Steelers and collected a career-high 23 receptions in 2023.
Heyward was selected by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has appeared in 68 games (14 starts) across four seasons. He has compiled 44 receptions for 379 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 70 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
Heyward played collegiately at Michigan State from 2017-21, finishing his career with 2,265 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Steelers were reportedly interested in re-signing Heyward, but he will instead continue his career with Las Vegas. He will now be part of first-year head coach Klint Kubiak’s offense that should see him continue getting occasional opportunities as a rusher while also blocking for Ashton Jeanty and potentially Fernando Mendoza.
Raiders sign Dareke Young
Young joins the Silver and Black after spending the last four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. The terms of his deal are unknown.
Young played in nine games this past season and recorded two catches for 48 yards. He also returned 10 kickoffs for 322 yards.
The former seventh-round draft pick has appeared in 42 games since entering the NFL. In his career, he has totaled four receptions for 72 yards and 27 tackles on special teams.
Young played collegiately at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne University, where he tallied 73 receptions for 1,176 yards and 16 touchdowns to go along with 88 rush attempts for 658 yards and eight touchdowns.
Young signing with the Raiders reunites him with Kubiak, who served as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator in 2025.
