Predicting the 53-man roster is always a difficult task, and impossible to get 100% right. But the Las Vegas Raiders have now gone through two weeks of training camp and a preseason game, so the picture is quite a bit clearer than it was the last time we went through this exercise.
Plus, the complexion of many different position groups has now changed due to a handful of roster moves both before and after the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. So, all of those changes need to be accounted for in our latest projection as well.
Without further ado, here is our best guess at where things stand for the Silver and Black's 53-man roster. We've also taken things a step further and guessed what the 17-man practice squad could look like in Las Vegas. These things are a moving target, but this is based on the info we have now.
Latest Las Vegas Raiders 53-man roster prediction
Quarterback (2):
Keep:Â Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza
Cut:Â Aidan O'Connell
Practice Squad:Â Jacob Clark
O'Connell went from a potential trade candidate to a clear release on roster cutdown day with his lackluster performance against the Cardinals. He could always bounce back, but it was a rough showing. Fans didn't get to see Clark play in the preseason opener, but they seem high on him. Plus, teams need a practice squad quarterback, and O'Connell wouldn't last there without being claimed.
Running Back (5):
Keep:Â Ashton Jeanty, Mike Washington Jr., Dylan Laube, Dare Ogunbowale, Connor Heyward
Cut:Â N/A
Practice Squad:Â Roman Hemby, Patrick Gurd
Laube and Ogunbowale both got more reps than Hemby did on offense during the preseason opener, and Ogunbowale outsnapped Hemby 10-5 on special teams. Laube only got one rep, which came on punt coverage, but his special teams ability speaks for itself. At this point, those two have a clearer path to the 53-man team. Heyward is light-years ahead of Gurd, but both are worth keeping around.
Wide Receiver (6):
Keep:Â Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, Dont'e Thornton Jr., Malik Benson, Deven Thompkins
Cut:Â Phillip Dorsett II, Brandon Johnson, Dareke Young, Noah Brown
Practice Squad:Â Shedrick Jackson, EJ Williams, Chase Roberts
This is where it gets a bit more complicated. The top five wideouts speak for themselves, but it is a tight battle between Jackson, Young, Brown, Thompkins, Williams and Roberts for the final spot, if they keep six players. Williams and Roberts were both listed by Kubiak as UDFAs who have impressed, and the former four are vets with some experience both on offense and on special teams.
I gave the spot to Thompkins at this point because he played more on offense and special teams than Jackson, Young, Williams or Roberts. He's also been in the building for all of training camp, unlike Brown, and he has flashed both at practice and during games as a receiver, kick returner and punt returner. This will come down to the wire, but Thompkins seems to have the edge right now.
Tight end (3):Â
Keep:Â Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas
Cut:Â Albert Okwuegbunam, Chris Myarick
Practice Squad:Â Carter Runyon
This room is about as straightforward as it gets. Mayer looked very good in the preseason opener, as did Thomas. Runyon hasn't participated at all this summer, presumably due to injury, but he's still the most talented and versatile player in the room behind the top three. Myarick and Okwuegbunam are fun pieces, but will only stick around on the practice squad if Runyon remains sidelined.
Offensive line (8):
Keep:Â Kolton Miller, Spencer Burford, Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze, Charles Grant, Trey Zuhn III, Caleb Rogers
Cut:Â Jordan Meredith, Isaiah Jatta, Kamar Missouri, Will Putnam, Braeden Daniels
Practice Squad:Â Atonio Mafi, Dalton Wagner, Niklas Henning
No real surprises here. Meredith could have been a trade candidate at one point, but after his dud in the preseason opener, he should get cut with no fanfare. Mafi had a good showing and is a candidate to make the practice squad now. Wagner played much better than Missouri did, and Jatta didn't play. Daniels is too late to the party to stick around. Henning has an IPP exemption, so he could stick.
Defensive tackle (5):
Keep:Â Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu, Thomas Booker IV, Tonka Hemingway, J.J. Pegues
Cut: Gary Smith III, Foley Fatukasi
Practice Squad:Â Brandon Cleveland, Treven Ma'ae
Benito Jones was released on Sunday, which makes this room a bit more straightforward. The five players we opted to keep are pretty much locks, and Fatukasi is likely to be cut. But Smith III, Ma'ae and Smith III will likely be in a battle for two practice squad spots, or maybe even one on the edge of the roster. But Smith III had the worst showing of the three on Thursday, so he's out, for now.
Defensive end (6):
Keep:Â Maxx Crosby, Kwity Paye, Malcolm Koonce, Keyron Crawford, Cian Slone, Patrick Johnson
Cut: N/A
Practice Squad:Â Jahfari Harvey
Nothing will change the fact that the top four players, barring injury, will be on the 53-man roster this fall. But Slone and Johnson both changed the math with their stellar showings in the first preseason game. And while Harvey played well in a standalone sense, he is also likely to make the practice squad due to the fact that Las Vegas needs an extra edge rusher in the building.
Linebacker (4):
Keep:Â Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, Cody Lindenberg, Tommy Eichenberg
Cut:Â Cameron McGrone, Buddy Johnson, Segun Olubi
Practice Squad:Â Xavian Sorey Jr.
It's likely that the Raiders keep more than four off-ball linebackers, but the edge rushers played so well that they complicated the equation. With so many personnel groups with just two linebackers, and a lot of the time, just one, Las Vegas can run a little thin here. Jeremy Chinn can always slide over in a pinch, and Sorey Jr. sticks based on upside. None of the other three have stood out.
Cornerback (6):
Keep:Â Taron Johnson, Eric Stokes, Darien Porter, Jermod McCoy, Zeke Masses, Decamerion Richardson
Cut:Â Chigozie Anusiem
Practice Squad:Â Caleb Offord, Greedy Vance Jr.
Richardson and Vance Jr. will be competing for a sixth spot in the cornerback room, if the Raiders keep six, even though they play different spots. Richardson missed the preseason opener due to the birth of his child, and Vance Jr. played well against the Cardinals. Anusiem is a clear cut candidate, and Offord is promising enough to keep around. Richardson and Vance Jr. could easily flip-flop.
Safety (5):
Keep:Â Jeremy Chinn, Treydan Stukes, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Dalton Johnson, Tristin McCollum
Cut:Â Devin Lafayette, Devyn Perkins
Practice Squad:Â N/A
Pretty cut-and-dry here. Unless Lafayette or Perkins shows something in joint practices or during the final two preseason games, they are more likely to be cut than to stick around on the practice squad. Taron Johnson's safety versatility could have them keep even fewer players, but let's stick with five.
Specialists (3):
Keep:Â P A.J. Cole, K Matt Gay, LS Tyler Duzansky
Cut:Â LS Alex Ward
Practice Squad:Â K Kansei Matsuzawa
Matsuzawa is in serious danger of not even getting to stick around with an IPP exemption after a rough first showing, and I'm still not fully convinced that Gay will be the opening day kicker. Surely, he won't be by the end of the year, but for now, let's stick him in there. Duzansky also played better on Thursday than Ward did, and he's got more upside, so let's keep him as well! A.J. Cole is A.J. Cole.
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