Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie was pretty excited when he drafted safety Shalom Luani in the seventh round this spring. He called Luani “a football-lovin’ Jesse,” the highest compliment from someone from Tennessee. In layman’s terms, Luani is a playmaker.
After barely missing a leaping interception in his first preseason game, Luani got one Thursday night in the preseason finale against the Seahawks at the Oakland Coliseum. The Washington State alum was a lock to make the roster before that play, but it ended his night on a high note as the coaches put Luani on ice for the remainder of the Raiders’ 17-13 loss.