Final Raiders’ 53-man roster prediction: Who’s safe ahead of cutdown day?
The Raiders need to trim their roster from 91 players to 53 by 1 p.m. Tuesday. That means they have important decisions to make at running back, wide receiver, defensive line and other position groups.
The team got to work Monday, waiving or releasing 18 players. The Raiders also added quarterback Kenny Pickett in a trade with the Browns. They were in need of a veteran backup after Aidan O’Connell fractured his wrist in the team’s preseason finale Saturday against the Cardinals.
Here is a final prediction of what the Raiders’ initial 53-man roster will look like:
Quarterback (3)
■ Starter: Geno Smith
■ In reserve: Kenny Pickett, Cam Miller
■ IR: O’Connell
■ Didn’t make the cut: None
The Raiders gave up a 2026 fifth-round pick for Pickett, who is 15-10 in 25 career NFL starts. His addition will allow Miller, a rookie sixth-round pick out of North Dakota State, more time to develop behind the scenes.
Running back (4)
■ Starter: Ashton Jeanty
■ In reserve: Zamir White, Raheem Mostert, Dylan Laube
■ Didn’t make the cut: Sincere McCormick, Chris Collier
Jeanty will get the majority of the carries, but White has looked electric in camp and should be the primary backup. Mostert performed well in the Raiders’ preseason finale Saturday against the Cardinals, which likely solidified his spot on the roster. Laube gets the nod over McCormick because of the value he provides on special teams.
Wide receiver (5)
■ Starters: Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Dont’e Thornton Jr.
■ In reserve: Jack Bech, Amari Cooper
■ Didn’t make the cut: Tommy Mellott, Alex Bachman, Justin Shorter, Shedrick Jackson, Phillip Dorsett, Collin Johnson, Marquez Callaway, Ketron Jackson Jr.
Meyers has requested a trade, but the team has expressed no interest in moving him. The Raiders still decided to add at this position Monday by signing Amari Cooper, who they selected No. 4 overall in the 2015 draft, to a one-year deal. Cooper may bump Mellott, a rookie sixth-round pick, off the roster. The college quarterback still has a lot to learn as a wide receiver.
Ketron Jackson Jr. was waived Monday, while Dorsett, Johnson and Callaway were released.
Tight end (3)
■ Starter: Brock Bowers
■ In reserve: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas
■ Didn’t make the cut: Albert Okwuegbunam, Carter Runyon, Qadir Ismail
The Raiders are as deep at tight end as any team in the NFL. They plan to rely heavily on this group. Ismail was waived Monday.
Offensive line (9)
■ Starters: LT Kolton Miller, LG Dylan Parham, C Jordan Meredith, RG Jackson Powers-Johnson, RT DJ Glaze
■ In reserve: G Alex Cappa, OL Thayer Munford Jr., OL Caleb Rogers, OT Charles Grant
■ Didn’t make the cut: OL Laki Tasi, G Atonio Mafi, OT Dalton Wagner, C Will Putnam, OT Parker Clements, C Jarrod Hufford, OT Gottlieb Ayedze (Note: Tasi has an international exemption and can join the Raiders practice squad without taking up one of the 16 spots.)
Powers-Johnson has won the starting right guard job, which means Cappa becomes a depth piece. The Raiders are bullish on this group and like the potential of rookie third-round picks Rogers and Grant. Munford struggled Saturday but should be fine as the team’s swing tackle.
Ayedze, Clements and Hufford were waived Monday.
Defensive line (10)
■ Starters: DE Maxx Crosby, DT Adam Butler, DT Jonah Laulu, DE Malcolm Koonce
■ In reserve: DL Tyree Wilson, DT Thomas Booker IV, DT Leki Fotu, DT Tonka Hemingway, DT JJ Pegues, DE Charles Snowden
■ Didn’t make the cut: DE Andre Carter II, DT Zach Carter, DT Treven Ma’ae, DT Keondre Coburn, DE Jah Joyner, DT Tank Booker, DE Jahfari Harvey, DE Ovie Oghoufo
The Raiders have done a good job of creating depth here. Hemingway, a rookie fourth-round pick, continued to improve throughout training camp. Fotu returned from a foot injury last week after missing the Raiders’ first two preseason games.
Tank Booker, Andre Carter II, Coburn and Joyner were waived Monday.
Linebacker (6)
■ Starters: Elandon Roberts, Devin White, Germaine Pratt
■ In reserve: Jamal Adams, Tommy Eichenberg, Cody Lindenberg
■ Didn’t make the cut: Jaylon Smith, Amari Gainer, Michael Barrett, Matt Jones
The Raiders’ top four linebackers — Roberts, White, Pratt and Adams — are all on one-year deals. That’s one reason the team could keep two younger players like Eichenberg and Lindenberg around.
Barrett and Gainer were waived Monday, while Smith was released.
Cornerback (5)
■ Starters: Eric Stokes, Kyu Blu Kelly
■ In reserve: Darien Porter, Decamerion Richardson, Darnay Holmes
■ Didn’t make the cut: JT Woods, John Humphrey, Greedy Vance, Sam Webb
Porter, a rookie third-round pick, gave up a touchdown pass Saturday, showing he still has room to grow. That could open the door for Kelly, a Bishop Gorman alum, to begin the season as a starter. Holmes appears safe as the team’s primary slot corner, but Vance has played well enough to keep his name in the conversation. Don’t be surprised if the Raiders also scour the waiver wire for cornerbacks after cutdown day.
Humphrey and Webb were waived Monday.
Safety (5)
■ Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao
■ In reserve: Chris Smith II, Terrell Edmunds, Thomas Harper
■ IR: Lonnie Johnson Jr.
■ Didn’t make the cut: Trey Taylor, Hudson Clark
The broken fibula Johnson suffered earlier this month in a team scrimmage likely puts Harper and Smith in position to make the team. Edmunds will likely take Johnson’s role as the Raiders’ rotational safety.
Clark was waived Monday.
Specialists (3)
K Daniel Carlson
P AJ Cole
LS Jacob Bobenmoyer
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.