Lester Cotton Sr. Bio
Lester Cotton Sr. is an American professional football guard who has played in the National Football League since 2019. Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, he played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was part of two College Football Playoff national championship-winning teams in 2015 and 2017. After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft, he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders and later spent time with the Miami Dolphins before being claimed by the New England Patriots.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 150 kilograms, Cotton has built his career as an interior offensive lineman. He has appeared at both guard positions throughout his college and professional career and is known for his run-blocking ability.
Early Life and Background
Lester Cotton was born on February 20, 1996, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He grew up in the same city where he would later become a college football standout, attending Central High School in Tuscaloosa. As a high school prospect, Cotton drew national attention and was rated a four-star recruit by major scouting services.
Cotton played in the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game, one of the premier high school all-star events in the country. He was also ranked as the number 3 offensive guard nationally by Rivals.com, establishing him as one of the top interior line prospects in his recruiting class. His strong high school career set the foundation for his move to the Southeastern Conference.
Path to American Football
Cotton chose to play his college football at the University of Alabama, turning down scholarship offers from Auburn, USC, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. Joining one of the most decorated programs in college football history, he immediately entered a competitive rotation along the Crimson Tide’s offensive line.
In his first season in 2015, Cotton appeared in four games while learning behind veteran linemen. By his sophomore year in 2016, he had earned a larger role, starting five games split between left guard and right guard and appearing in 12 total contests. He was a key blocker in nine 100-yard rushing games that season, including dominant performances against Tennessee and Texas A&M, where the offense rolled up more than 400 rushing yards in each contest.
As a junior in 2017, Cotton became a full-time starter at right guard, starting all 13 games and earning recognition as a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s top offensive line unit. A knee injury in the Sugar Bowl against Clemson kept him out of the College Football Playoff National Championship against Georgia, but he had already helped Alabama capture the 2015 and 2017 national titles.
Lester Cotton Sr. Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Following the 2019 NFL draft, Lester Cotton Sr. signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent. He was released at the initial roster cuts but quickly returned on the practice squad. In December 2019, he was promoted to the active roster and played one snap in his first NFL game.
Cotton was active for three games during his rookie season but appeared in only one. He was released at the 2020 roster cuts, briefly leaving the organization before being re-signed in February 2021.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2019–2022)
After re-joining the Raiders in 2021, Cotton was waived at the end of training camp and brought back on the practice squad the following day. He signed a reserve/future contract in January 2022 following the team’s playoff elimination.
In 2022, Cotton made the Raiders’ final roster as a backup interior lineman. He earned his first career NFL start at right guard in Week 2 of that season in a spot start. His season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on December 3, 2022, and later released on December 15, 2022. Shortly after, on December 20, 2022, he was signed to the Miami Dolphins practice squad.
Miami Dolphins Era (2022–2024)
Cotton signed a reserve/future contract with the Miami Dolphins on January 16, 2023, securing his place on the roster entering the new league year. He continued to develop as depth along the interior offensive line in South Florida.
In 2024, Cotton played in 11 games for the Miami Dolphins before being released on November 25, 2024. His release came during a stretch of roster turnover for the Dolphins, opening the door for his next opportunity.
New England Patriots Era (2024–Present)
On November 26, 2024, Lester Cotton Sr. was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots, joining his third NFL organization. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for a roster spot along the Patriots’ offensive line.
Cotton joined a New England team in the midst of a roster rebuild, providing veteran depth at both guard positions. His experience in zone and gap run schemes from his time in Miami and Las Vegas made him a fit for the Patriots’ offensive approach.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cotton is recognized primarily as a run-blocking guard who excels at creating movement at the line of scrimmage. During his time at Alabama, he was a reliable drive-blocker in short-yardage and goal-line situations, often helping to spring big rushing totals. He has shown positional versatility by starting games at both left and right guard across his college and professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Cotton’s most memorable college moments came during the 2017 season, when he helped the Alabama Crimson Tide rush for 496 yards against Vanderbilt and 530 total yards against Mercer while posting elite blocking grades. His first NFL start came in Week 2 of the 2022 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, and he went on to appear in 11 games for the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before being claimed by the New England Patriots.
Lester Cotton Sr. Career Wins
Lester Cotton Sr. is a two-time College Football Playoff national champion, having been part of the Alabama Crimson Tide’s title-winning teams in 2015 and 2017. While he has not posted any widely verified individual championship wins as a professional, he has been part of winning locker rooms at every NFL stop.
Alabama Crimson Tide Highlights
During his four seasons at Alabama, Cotton made 28 career starts along the offensive line and helped the Crimson Tide produce some of the most prolific rushing attacks in college football. He started 13 games at right guard in 2017 en route to a national championship appearance, and in 2018 he moved to left guard and finished his career as a reliable two-year starter.
Cotton was a key blocker in multiple dominant Alabama performances, including a Sugar Bowl victory over Clemson in 2017 and a CFP National Championship win earlier in his career. He was also recognized as a Joe Moore Award finalist in 2017.
Other Wins & Performances
Cotton won back-to-back SEC Championship Game appearances with Alabama, including a 2018 contest in which he came off the bench in relief of Deonte Brown to play 39 snaps. His pro career has included playoff experience with the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2021 Wild Card round.
Lester Cotton Sr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Lester Cotton Sr.’s immediate family and parents are limited. He was raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and his connection to that city has remained a constant throughout his football career, from high school at Central to college at Alabama.
Personal Life
Lester Cotton Sr. uses the suffix Sr., suggesting he shares his name with a family member, though further public details about his spouse and children have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Lester Cotton Sr. is expected to compete for a depth role along the New England Patriots’ offensive line after being claimed off waivers in late November 2024. His ability to play both guard positions gives the Patriots flexibility in building out their interior rotation.
Cotton’s professional track record, including 11 games played for the Miami Dolphins in 2024, positions him as a veteran backup capable of stepping into a starting role when needed. With the Patriots continuing a roster rebuild, he will have an opportunity to earn additional playing time during the 2025 campaign.
His run-blocking foundation, developed across multiple Alabama national championship teams, should remain his pathway to sustained NFL opportunity. If he can stay healthy and continue providing steady interior play, Cotton has a chance to remain in the league and contribute to the Patriots’ offensive line rebuild through the 2025 season and beyond.