Coming off a 34-17 preseason win over the Los Angeles Rams, the Las Vegas Raiders must think a little more about tough forthcoming roster decisions. Remember, the league has changed the roster cutdown process to one day, August 29.
Who’s going to start at right guard? How will the wide receiver room shake out? Which guys will head to injured reserve after final cuts to preserve their eligibility for the regular season?
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Based on preseason snaps and reports out of training camp, we have a bit of clarity on the pecking order in some spots, but the wide receiver and cornerback units remain unclear because of great depth and competition in those areas.
Before the Raiders file down the roster to their final 53 men, we’ll take a shot at predicting who are the front-runners for contested positions and who’s leading the competition for back-end spots on the depth chart.
Quarterbacks (3)
- Starter: Jimmy Garoppolo
- Backups: Aidan O’Connell, Brian Hoyer
We knew Garoppolo would go into the regular season as the starting quarterback, but the Raiders had to open up the primary backup job after they lost Jarrett Stidham to the Denver Broncos in free agency.
In April, Vegas signed Hoyer and selected Aidan O’Connell in the fourth round of the draft.
If you look at their preseason performances, O’Connell has clearly beat out Hoyer for the primary backup job. The former has consistently moved the ball while under center, and the latter didn’t play well against the Rams, going 12-of-22 passing for 144 yards with a pick-six.
Last Saturday, Hoyer didn’t see linebacker Jake Hummel in the middle of the field and threw an awful interception. Meanwhile, O’Connell has been one of the top performers in the preseason. Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis provided the numbers for proof.
Despite Hoyer’s subpar outings, the Raiders will likely keep him because of the new quarterback rule, which allows teams to use an emergency third quarterback on game day. In order for clubs to make a third signal-caller available, he must be on the 53-man roster but won’t count against the 46-man roster on game day.
Running backs (5)
- Starters: Josh Jacobs, Jakob Johnson (fullback)
- Backups: Zamir White, Ameer Abdullah, Brandon Bolden
According to Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore, the Las Vegas Raiders expect Jacobs to rejoin the team before Week 1 of the regular season.
Jacobs hasn’t signed the $10.1 million running back franchise tender but after the New England Patriots inked Ezekiel Elliott to a contract worth up to $6 million and Dalvin Cook’s $7 million pact with the New York Jets, Jacobs may be willing to play out the year for a eight-figure salary with an eye toward free agency in 2024.
Assuming Jacobs returns, he’ll handle the bulk of the touches while White settles into a complementary role. Abdullah and Bolden could split pass-catching duties for a full-blown running back committee.
Though Sincere McCormick scored two touchdowns in Week 1 of the preseason, he had a quiet outing against the Rams and hasn’t done enough to unseat seasoned veterans like Abdullah and Bolden.
Per Bonsignore, Brittain Brown suffered a lower-body injury at practice on August 5, and no one has provided an update on his absences.
Wide receivers (6)
- Starters: Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Renfrow
- Backups: DeAndre Carter, Tre Tucker, Phillip Dorsett
Arguably the most competitive position on the Raiders roster, the wide receiver group could feature six keepers for the regular season, which is a bit deeper than the five-man unit from last year’s roster cuts.
Several wideouts made standout plays in the preseason, including Kristian Wilkerson, Cam Sims, and Keelan Cole Sr., but none of those receivers made significant contributions on special teams, and that’s what separates Carter from the pack.
Against the Rams, Carter recorded a 31-yard punt return and a 30-yard kick return. In two preseason contests, he’s split return duties with Tucker. Cole has only returned one punt for two yards in return duty. Carter should have a clear pathway to a roster spot because of his special team’s capabilities, which allows Renfrow to focus on his role in the slot.
As a third-round pick, Tucker is a lock to make the final roster despite his mixed-bag performances in exhibition action. He’ll have time to work on his consistency behind Renfrow in the slot.
Dorsett gets the nod over Wilkerson, Sims, and Cole because he can stretch the field. Because Tucker has had issues with drops, the Raiders need a more reliable speedy wideout who can challenge defenses downfield. Dorsett fits the bill, and he had a strong showing against the Rams, hauling in four passes for 76 yards.
Tight Ends (3)
- Starter: Austin Hooper
- Backups: Michael Mayer, Cole Fotheringham
Eventually, Mayer will take over the starting spot at tight end, but he’s not quite ready to do so yet.
In last Saturday’s game, Hooper drew a pass interference penalty, but he outdid Mayer in pass-blocking duties. The rookie is equipped to gain some ground on the veteran in that regard, but he’ll be more of a pass-catcher, especially in two-tight end sets early in the season.
Fotheringham beats out Jesper Horsted because of his quality outings. The former caught five passes for 71 yards in the first week of the preseason and looked solid as an inline tight end in the last contest. Horsted, on the other hand, hasn’t shown much.
Offensive line (8)
- Starters: Kolton Miller, Dylan Parham, Andre James, Greg Van Roten, Jermaine Eluemunor
- Backups: Justin Herron, McClendon Curtis, Thayer Munford Jr.
We can bank on four of the five starters with the right guard spot up for grabs. Munford pushed Eluemunor for the right tackle job, but their performances haven’t warranted to change at the position. They’ve both played well, which favors the incumbent in a competition for the starting job.
In both preseason games, Van Roten has lined up with the starters over Alex Bars, who started in 14 games at right guard last year. Van Roten seems like he’s locked up the right guard job, which puts Bars, Netane Muti, and Curtis in a battle for one spot if the Raiders keep eight offensive linemen as they did last year.
Curtis has a lot of playing experience at right guard with 30 starts at Chattanooga. He’s also performed well enough in the preseason to surpass Bars and Muti on the depth chart. Perhaps the Raiders make room for one more offensive lineman, but regardless, Curtis looks like an undrafted rookie who could make the cut.
Over the last two years, Jackson Barton has held down a back-end roster spot at tackle, but he’s currently on the Arizona Cardinals roster. In his absence, Vegas needs a backup left tackle with Brandon Parker out for the season on injured reserve.
Through two preseason games, Herron (92 snaps) and Eluemunor (42 snaps) have split time at left tackle, per Pro Football Focus. With Eluemunor likely to start on the right side, Herron should be in line for the backup left tackle job.
Defensive linemen (10)
- Starters:Â Maxx Crosby, Bilal Nichols, Jerry Tillery, Chandler Jones
- Backups:Â Tyree Wilson, Byron Young, Neil Farrell Jr., Malcolm Koonce, Matthew Butler, Jordan Willis
Vegas will have a lot of depth along its defensive line. Once Wilson and Young get a little more time on the practice field after missing a chunk of the offseason, they should provide a boost to the unit.
Isaac Rochell had a standout outing against the San Francisco 49ers in the first week of the preseason, recording three tackles and splitting a sack with Willis, but he may land on injured reserve or miss the cut.
Rochell didn’t play in the Raiders’ second preseason game, and head coach Josh McDaniels told reporters that he held some guys out because of nicks and bruises. Keep an eye on Rochell though, if he’s healthy, the seventh-year veteran could find the backdoor to a roster spot.
Among the defensive ends, Koonce and Willis have stood out the most. Because of Koonce’s draft pedigree, a 2021 third-rounder, he’s likely to make the roster. Willis has earned his spot, making three stops in two exhibition outings.
Matthew Butler could be in trouble if Rochell makes the roster or Adam Butler outplays him next week.
Linebackers (5)
- Starters: Divine Deablo, Robert Spillane
- Backups: Curtis Bolton, Amari Burney, Drake Thomas
The Raiders will have a new-look linebacker unit this year. The team didn’t re-sign Denzel Perryman or Jayon Brown. Luke Masterson and Darien Butler have stiff competition for roster spots.
You can lock in Deablo, who will wear the green dot, and Spillane into starting roles, but the backups could feature a new trio.
Last year, Vegas waived Bolton and then signed him to the practice squad. He made a key play against the 49ers, forcing a fumble. Linebackers coach Antonio Pierce said (h/t The Athletic’s Vic Tafur) Bolton has played more off-ball linebacker this offseason and looks more comfortable communicating with his teammates on the field, which significantly helps his bid to make the final roster.
Burney and Thomas could replace Masterson and Butler this year.
Burney has shown some promise in coverage, allowing four catches for 44 yards on eight targets with a pass breakup. As a former safety with decent ball production at Florida, he’s a probable upgrade over Masterson in obvious passing situations.
Last Saturday, Thomas led the team in tackles (12) and logged a tackle for loss. He’s a more efficient tackler than Butler, who’s had issues with his pursuit angles, resulting in some missed opportunities.
More importantly, Thomas hasn’t allowed big plays in coverage. He’s allowed four receptions on five targets for just 13 yards. Linebackers must be able to fit the run and limit yards after the catch to a minimum, and Thomas has done that in the preseason.
Cornerbacks (6)
- Starters: Marcus Peters, Nate Hobbs, Tyler Hall
- Backups: Duke Shelley, Sam Webb, Jakorian Bennett
Bennett didn’t suit up for the previous preseason game, which may be a sign that he’s dealing with an injury. If so, the Raiders may delay the rookie fourth-rounder’s ascension to a starting position.
In the meantime, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham can roll with Peters and Hobbs on the outside with Hall in the slot.
In two exhibition outings, Hall has played the most snaps in the slot (33 snaps) and logged 10 snaps at both safety positions. He’s going to be a versatile defender who could become a valuable asset in nickel-and-dime packages in the upcoming campaign.
Among the cornerbacks battling for a roster spot, Duke Shelley and Sam Webb outperformed Amik Robertson and David Long Jr. Brandon Facyson hasn’t suited up for the preseason, perhaps because of injury.
Shelley nearly picked off a pass in the first preseason game, and he’s allowed just four catches for 41 yards on eight targets. Webb hasn’t given up a reception on two targets and hauled in an interception against the 49ers.
Safeties (4)
- Starters: Marcus Epps, Tre’von Moehrig
- Backups: Chris Smith II, Roderic Teamer
All four safeties seem like locks to make the roster. To some, Teamer may be a question mark because he doesn’t have a big role on defense, but the fifth-year veteran has been a core special teamer, which holds value in competition for a back-end roster spot.
Though Isaiah Pola-Mao scored on a pick-six against the Rams, he hasn’t shown much outside of that, and the Raiders may lean on Tyler Hall as a safety based on his work at the position in the preseason.
Last year, the Raiders kept five cornerbacks and five safeties in the final roster cutdown, but Hall’s cornerback-safety versatility may influence them to hold on to just four pure safeties this time around. Pola-Mao will likely make it back on the practice squad.
Special Teams (3)
- Kicker: Daniel Carlson
- Punter: AJ Cole
- Long snapper: Jacob Bobenmoyer
No surprises here. Carlson and Cole are one of the best kicker-punter duos in the NFL. Bobenmoyer will replace Trent Sieg, whom the Raiders cut in March. Remember, Bobenmoyer played under special teams coach Tom McMahon for two seasons with the Broncos.
All advanced statistics are provided by Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Maurice Moton covers the Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.