Oakland Raiders begin their cuts on Friday with Saturday deadline looming
By Brad Weiss
The Oakland Raiders need to have their 53-man roster set in stone by 1pm PT on Saturday, but that did not stop them from cutting people on Friday.
The 2018 regular season is upon us, as the next time the Oakland Raiders take the field the game will count. The Raiders went 3-1 in Jon Gruden’s return to the sidelines this preseason, as some players came out of nowhere to star for the team throughout the summer.
On Saturday, the Raiders have to get their 90-man roster down to 53 guys, and Gruden and staff began making his cuts on Friday. None of the names really jumped off the page, but as we inch closer to Saturday’s deadline, you could see some veteran shown the door.
The fact is, the Raiders did a nice job in the 2018 NFL Draft, and some of the question marks on draft day have really blossomed this summer. Many experts scoffed at the Raiders after the draft, but guys like Arden Key, Maurice Hurst Jr., and PJ Hall have proven to be beasts on the defensive side of the ball, and first rounder Kolton Miller will be the starter at left tackle.
Here is the list of players the Raiders released on Friday.
Qunicy Mauger
Raysean Pringle
Pharoah Brown
Cameron Hunt
Antwuan Davis
Connor Flagel
Some notable veterans who could be released on Saturday are guys like Mario Edwards Jr., Doug Martin, and Shareece Wright. The Raiders actually had a plethora of veteran talent on their roster this summer, but the rookies have really stepped up, and taken a choke hold on some of these final roster spots.
Next. Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks: 3 up 3 down. dark
By 1pm PT on Saturday, we will know which 53 men will open the season on the Raiders regular season roster. The expectation for the Raiders is a high level of improvement over the 2017 campaign, as they have an easier schedule, a better coaching staff, and better overall talent.