Carlos Basham Jr. Bio
Carlos “Boogie” Basham Jr. is an American professional football linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Born on December 16, 1997, in Roanoke, Virginia, Basham built his reputation as a disruptive defender at Wake Forest University before entering the league. Selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, he has since spent time with the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers while continuing his career on the Raiders’ practice squad.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed around 248 pounds, Basham is known for his athleticism, quick first step, and ability to play along the defensive line. Across stops in Buffalo, New York, Carolina, and Las Vegas, he has contributed as a rotational pass rusher and run defender, recording sacks, tackles, and turnovers in regular and postseason play.
Early Life and Background
Carlos Basham Jr. grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, where he attended Northside High School. During his senior season, he emerged as one of the area’s most productive defensive players, recording 76 tackles and seven sacks. That production drew the attention of college scouts and helped him secure a scholarship opportunity.
Basham committed to Wake Forest University to play college football, joining a Demon Deacons program that would become central to his development. His upbringing in Roanoke and his family’s support shaped his work ethic, while his early love of dancing earned him the lifelong nickname “Boogie,” a detail he has carried into his professional career.
Path to American Football
Basham arrived at Wake Forest in 2016 and redshirted his first year, allowing him to adjust to the college game physically and mentally. By 2017, he was on the field in all 13 games, registering 24 tackles as a reserve. His role expanded steadily as he gained experience in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
As a junior in 2018, Basham posted 64 tackles and 4.5 sacks, showing the combination of power and quickness that would later attract NFL teams. He returned as a starter in 2019 and earned first-team All-ACC honors, establishing himself as one of the conference’s premier defensive linemen. On December 21, 2019, he announced that he would return for his senior season in 2020, a decision that further polished his draft stock and led to third-team All-ACC recognition the following year.
Carlos Basham Jr. Career
Early Career (2021)
Basham was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round, 61st overall, of the 2021 NFL draft, becoming one of the team’s top defensive additions of that cycle. On May 12, 2021, he officially signed his rookie contract with the Bills and began learning a professional rotation alongside veteran edge rushers.
As a rookie, Basham appeared in eight games and finished the season with 2.5 sacks and 18 total tackles. The experience helped him adjust to NFL speed, and his performance laid the groundwork for an expanded role the following season.
Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2022)
Basham’s second NFL season marked his clearest on-field breakthrough. On September 8, 2022, during the kickoff game at the Los Angeles Rams, he recorded his first career interception, a 21-yard pick off Matthew Stafford. The interception helped seal a 31–10 Bills victory, and he also added a sack on Stafford earlier in the same game.
Across the 2022 regular season, Basham appeared in 15 games and tallied two sacks, 19 total tackles, one interception, two passes defended, and one fumble recovery. He also recorded a sack in the Bills’ Wild Card Round win over the Miami Dolphins, contributing to Buffalo’s postseason push.
New York Giants Era (2023–2024)
On August 29, 2023, Basham was traded to the New York Giants along with a 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. He appeared in 13 games during the 2023 season, serving as a rotational defensive end for a Giants team undergoing defensive changes.
On October 22, 2024, Basham was waived by the Giants and re-signed to the practice squad, where he continued to develop while remaining available for elevation.
Carolina Panthers Era (2025)
On January 21, 2025, Basham signed a reserve/future contract with the Carolina Panthers, giving him an offseason path back to the active roster. He was released on August 26 and re-signed to the practice squad, continuing to provide depth and veteran experience.
On October 18, 2025, Basham was elevated from the practice squad for Carolina’s Week 7 game against the New York Jets. He was released on November 4, 2025, closing his Panthers tenure.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2025–Present)
On November 25, 2025, Basham was signed to the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad, linking him with another defensive rebuild. The move positioned him within a new scheme and coaching staff as he sought to return to regular game action.
Notable Events and Milestones
Basham’s signature early moment came on September 8, 2022, when his first career interception against the Los Angeles Rams helped seal a 31–10 Bills season-opening victory. He followed that performance with a sack in Buffalo’s Wild Card Round win over the Miami Dolphins, marking his first postseason contribution.
Carlos Basham Jr. Career Wins
Across his NFL tenure, Basham has been a steady rotational contributor rather than a primary stat-sheet leader, and his win totals reflect a journey through multiple franchises. His most memorable regular-season victory came on September 8, 2022, when his interception helped the Bills defeat the Los Angeles Rams 31–10, and his first postseason win came in the Wild Card Round against the Miami Dolphins the same year.
NFL Highlights
Basham’s first career interception against Matthew Stafford in the 2022 opener stands as his most recognized play. He later contributed to a Wild Card Round win over the Miami Dolphins with a sack, and he appeared in games for the Bills, Giants, Panthers, and Raiders across five NFL seasons.
Other Performances
At Wake Forest, Basham earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2019 and third-team All-ACC recognition in 2020, building a college resume that included 64 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2018 alone.
Carlos Basham Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Basham is the cousin of NFL defensive end Tarell Basham, extending a family connection within professional football. His Roanoke upbringing and family support helped shape his path from high school football to the NFL.
Personal Life
Basham gained his nickname “Boogie” due to his fondness for dancing in his youth, a detail that has remained part of his public identity throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
Basham’s 2025 season has been defined by roster movement rather than a single fixed home. After signing a reserve/future contract with the Carolina Panthers in January, he was released in late August and re-signed to the practice squad before being elevated for Carolina’s Week 7 game against the New York Jets on October 18, 2025.
His release from the Panthers on November 4, 2025, was followed by a signing to the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad on November 25, 2025. The latest move offered a fresh opportunity within a new defensive scheme as the season approached its final stretch.
Looking ahead, Basham’s outlook centers on earning an active-roster role with the Raiders and contributing as a rotational pass rusher. His combination of size, athleticism, and prior NFL experience positions him as a veteran depth piece for the remainder of the 2025 season.