Oakland Raiders: Post-draft 53-man roster projection

By Brad Weiss | May 1, 2019

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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STARKVILLE, MS – OCTOBER 06: Johnathan Abram #38 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrates during the second half against the Auburn Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Safety

Karl Joseph, Erik Harris, Johnathan Abram, Lamarcus Joyner (4)

One of the bigger moves of the offseason early on was the signing of Lamarcus Joyner, a fine safety who helped the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl last season. He joins a Raiders safety room that is very strong heading into the 2019 NFL season, especially after drafting Johnathan Abram in the first round this past April.

Abram plays the game the right way, and is someone who should be a Day One starter for the Raiders this season. He joins a safety position group that saw great improvement from two guys last season in Erik Harris and Karl Joseph, who should both be on the team in 2019.

Harris came out of nowhere to earn his spot on the team, and is a fan favorite. Joseph, a former first round pick, was seen as kind of a bust before this past season, but he stepped up in a big way for Gruden and Guenther, and became a leader in this defensive backfield.

With the drafting of Abram, who plays similarly to Joseph, the Raiders could decide to part ways with the veteran at some point. However, as the roster stands today, this would be the four safeties I would keep heading into Week 1 against the Denver Broncos.

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