The chance to see Chris Warren III play in a regular season game for the Oakland Raiders comes to an end. Who is the next player to see the door?
The preseason MVP from 2018 will no longer dawn the Silver and Black as the Oakland Raiders have cut Chris Warren III from the team. After just one day of training camp the coaching staff apparently saw and knew enough of Warren to make this decision.
Many fans had high hopes in Warren, though it’s pretty much a norm with Raider Nation when a player excels in the preseason.
This move makes it more likely that DeAndre Washington will remain on the team, which he is the clear and better talent. With Washington, at least the Raiders can maintain their pass catching running back dynamic.
Chris Warren III certainly doesn’t have that skill, which makes him expendable. Running backs nowadays aren’t valued anywhere high if all they can do is go between the tackles when really it is the offensive line that is opening up the lanes.
The immediate elevation to starting status that some had placed on Warren was simply delusional. To expect Warren to suddenly burst onto the scene is a fantasy. This offseason has been an eventful one and the hype train for Warren is one of them.
Speaking of eventful, back in March, Warren went on a little rant on Instagram regarding his weight after receiving criticism on a post.
Well that criticism might not have been farfetched if he’s being cut just after day one of training camp. Was his weight too much? Who knows, but what is known is that Jon Gruden and his staff do have certain expectations when it comes to a player’s physique. It’s why they wanted Arden Key to bulk up some more, which it looks like has done.
It is not a common thing for a player to be cut after just one day of camp. Chris Warren has been a part of this team for a year now. Perhaps the growth and improvement the coaching staff wanted to see just wasn’t there. Regardless, I did not foresee any scenario where Warren would have made the team. He just doesn’t fit as well in the offense as most want to believe.
Once again, pass catching backs are the ideal fit. Josh Jacobs and Jalen Richard are skilled in that sense. Even Doug Martin can pop out of the backfield occasionally. With this move the Oakland Raiders backfield looks set. Now it’s just a question on if fullback Keith Smith will be retained now that he is injured with Alec Ingold receiving the reps.