Charles

Snowden

Snowden was an effective rotational pass rusher for the Raiders last season. The Cowboys signed him in June. He was suspended for three games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy in July. The Cowboys put an injury designation on his release. Perhaps he will be brought back at some point. They correspondingly signed OT Sebastian Gutierrez.

Snowden had a DUI in 2024. He’s not a surefire bet to make the Cowboys roster either way, but this certainly won’t help his chances.

Bringing Snowden aboard gives the Cowboys a capable backup pass rusher. He tallied 10 quarterback pressures and two sacks on 52 pass-rushing snaps last year. He also chipped in 18 solo tackles and five TFLs, while earning a career-best 70.5 PFF defense grade.

He was a restricted free agent. Meredith did not play up to his 2024 PFF grade in 2025, falling from 80.8 to 57.7 in a career-best 676 snaps at center. Now clearly behind Tyler Linderbaum, Meredith will look to find a different spot on the line to compete for a starting role. The Raiders also re-signed ERFA Charles Snowden.

Snowden, 27, served as a rotational pass rusher last season and quietly led Raiders edge rushers with a 19.2 percent quarterback pressure rate. He totaled 10 quarterback pressures and two sacks. He also intercepted one pass. Keeping him in-house makes sense. The Raiders also tendered ERFA C Will Putnam and ERFA S Tristin McCollum.

Las Vegas Justice Court records detailed the arrest of Snowden. The third-year defensive end has appeared in 13 games for the Raiders this season, making seven starts while tallying 30 tackles, three TFLs, and 1.5 sacks.

Snowden (6'7/240) won’t be able to play in the game as he’s recovering from a broken right ankle, so it remains to be seen if he’ll make the trek to Mobile next month. The senior edge rusher was an honorable mention all-ACC selection in 2019, racking up 72 total tackles (11 for loss), 5.0 sacks, one fumble recovery, nine quarterback hurries and four pass breakups. Snowden projects to be a Day 3 selection in this spring’s draft, with Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline giving him a third-round grade.

Snowden (6'7/225) is the second highest rated prospect on the Cavaliers, trailing only cornerback Bryce Hall. “Snowden is a quick, run-and-chase linebacker who is very explosive and flashes on film,” Pauline writes. “He’s got to get a little stronger, but I like his future.” It’s not the first time we’ve heard similar compliments, as Snowden was called a “budding star” by Andy Bitter of The Athletic. We’re certainly intrigued.

Snowden (6'7/225) was one of the few players for Virginia who got to the quarterback last year, although he only had 2.5 sacks on the season. There’s opportunity here for the defender, as the Cavaliers lost Chris Peace to graduation. Snowden is going to have to live up to his potential if Virginia is going to be as good -- or better -- than last year, and he certainly has the frame and speed to do so.