Las Vegas Raiders: 3 possible surprise cut candidates after training camp
QB Nathan Peterman
The Raiders brass joked earlier this offseason that they want to place Nathan Peterman in isolation to protect him from possible infection in case of emergency, and they may do that by placing him on the practice squad. Gruden likes to carry three quarterbacks, and may be even more likely to do so if he has special packages in mind for Marcus Mariota.
Stashing Peterman on the practice squad can free up a spot for a young player that has caught his eye at another position.
He may choose to keep linebacker Javin White on the roster, or carry an additional defensive back like Dallin Leavitt for his special teams contributions, and he can simply call up Peterman when he’s needed. Peterman obviously can’t contribute on special teams and any gadget plays Gruden might draw up for him can be executed by Mariota or even Lynn Bowden Jr. instead.
It’s doubtful that other teams will try to poach Peterman, as none of them are as high on him as Gruden is, but in the case of an outbreak on a team that is always a possibility. There is also the question of Mariota’s health, as he was held out of some practices in training camp, but that may have just been a precautionary measure.
Peterman is both a surprise and obvious cut candidate because of his reputation around the league, but most roster predictions have him penciled in as the active number three quarterback.