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Raiders 53-man roster projection after the preseason finale

By Brad Weiss

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 18: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders coaches from the sideline during the first half of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 18: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders coaches from the sideline during the first half of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 03: Orleans Darkwa No. 26 of the New York Giants is tackled by Bruce rvin No. 51 of the Oakland Raiders during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 3, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 03: Orleans Darkwa No. 26 of the New York Giants is tackled by Bruce rvin No. 51 of the Oakland Raiders during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 3, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line (9): Bruce Irvin, Tank Carradine, Fadol Brown, Maurice Hurst Jr., Mario Edwards Jr., PJ Hall, Shilique Calhoun, Justin Ellis, Arden Key

For the first time this summer, our Raiders 53-man projection for Week 1 will not include Khalil Mack, who is still not with the team. Today, it was reported the team would trade Mack to the Chicago Bears, in a stunning turn of events on cut day.

In Mack’s place, the Raiders have to be banking on the fact they saw some good things from the guys behind him on the depth chart this summer. While Bruce Irvin is a given, guys like Fadol Brown, Shilique Calhoun, and Arden Key have shown that they can certainly get the edge, giving the Raiders a ton of talent at the defensive end position.

In the middle, the rookies have been monsters this summer, as PJ Hall and Maurice Hurst Jr. look to have been excellent selections this past April. Justin Ellis and Mario Edwards Jr. will also be with the Raiders in Week 1, and for the first time in a long time, the Raiders defensive line will be a strength for the team.

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