Like the rest of the NFL, the Oakland Raiders need to get their roster down to 53 men by 1pm PT on Saturday, and here is where you can track all the cuts.
The Oakland Raiders brought in a ton of talent on both sides of the ball this offseason, as general manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden appear to be on the same page. This tandem has breathed new life back into the franchise, and it has been apparent the talent level is increased all summer long.
With all four preseason games in the books, it is time to start looking at who the Raiders will have to let go as they trim the roster down from 90 to 53. The roster has to be shaved to 53 men by 1pm PT on Saturday, but that did not stop the team from making some quick cuts on Friday.
Last offseason, the Raiders struggled with talent, and it showed with how little depth the team had at numerous positions. This summer, they have proven that there will be guys who are cut that will latch on somewhere else, even possibly in starting roles.
Here is our tracker for those cuts, as the Raiders look to get ready for Week 1 against the Denver Broncos.
Notable Cuts
Brandon Marshall
The veteran linebacker was one of the first dominoes to fall on Friday, as the team announced they had released him early on in the process. Marshall wanted to prove his knee was healthy enough for the regular season, and should latch on somewhere else.
Luke Willson
One of the Hard Knocks favorites, Luke Willson will have to look elsewhere for work, as he was released on Friday. Willson was unable to crack a depth chart that has Darren Waller at the top, as it looks like Foster Moreau and Derek Carrier will round out the position group.
Eddie Vanderdoes
The Raiders third round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Eddie Vanderdoes had originally looked like he would have a long career in the Silver and Black. However, he tore up his knee in Week 17 that season, and just could never get right, and he was let go on Friday.
Anthony Rush
The undrafted rookie looked very good for the Raiders all preseason long, making play after play, and becoming a fan favorite along the way. However, it appears like Jon Gruden is going with the veterans up front on the defensive line, but if Rush is not claimed, he would be a perfect player for the practice squad.
Marcell Ateman
At the end of last season, Marcell Ateman was a starter for the Raiders at wide receiver, and he even got better this summer. Unfortunately for Ateman, this is a wide receiver room that got incredibly better this offseason, and he will now have to look for an opportunity elsewhere.
Ethan Westbrooks
Ethan Westbrooks came to the Raiders during training camp, and looked very good up front on defense for the Silver and Black. The Oakland native made a strong case for himself to make the team’s 53-man roster, but he was cut on Saturday, just hours before the deadline.
Keelan Doss
The Oakland Raiders team MVP for the preseason, Keelan Doss appeared to be a lock to make the 53-man roster when Marcell Ateman was cut earlier in the day. However, Doss was eventually let go as well, and based on how well he played this summer, he likely is not going to clear waivers.
Keith Smith
The Raiders starting fullback last season, Keith Smith was hurt early in the summer, and had to try to fend off undrafted rookie Alec Ingold. Unfortunately for Smith, it was too little, too late, as Ingold impressed the coaching staff, and will head into 2019 as the new starting fullback for the Raiders.
Jason Cabinda
A former star for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Jason Cabinda went undrafted in 2018, but managed to find a home with the Oakland Raiders. On Saturday, Cabinda was let go by the Raiders, despite the fact many believed he would provide depth at the linebacker position in 2019.
In happier news, the Raiders did sign Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson to a three-year extension on Friday, bringing back the anchor of the offensive line for the foreseeable future. If the Raiders want to do anything offensively, getting Hudson back under contract was paramount, as he was slated to hit free agency next off-season.