The Las Vegas Raiders' roster for the 2024 season showcases a blend of veteran leadership, promising rookies, and strategic depth across various positions, particularly on offense.
The quarterback battle between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell has been a focal point, with Minshew emerging as the starter due to his experience and performance , though O'Connell's potential keeps the competition alive, as Antonio Pierce has already mentioned that the door is not closed for O'Connell.
The running back position is robust with Zamir White leading the charge after Josh Jacobs departed in free agency to the Green Bay Packers, supported by Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah, indicating a strategy for a versatile backfield.
Wide receivers Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers are set as the top targets, with Tre Tucker and DJ Turner adding depth and special teams value, alongside the dynamic tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, who are expected to be key components of the offense.
Defensively, the Raiders have invested in their front seven, with Maxx Crosby anchoring the edge alongside Malcolm Koonce, Christian Wilkins, and John Jenkins providing a formidable presence in the interior. The linebacker corps, with Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo, aims to bolster the defense's ability to cover and stop the run, though there's an ongoing need for improvement in run defense as noted in their preseason performance.
The secondary, with Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs, and safeties Marcus Epps and Trevon Moehrig, has seen competition for spots, particularly at cornerback, where the team has been looking to add more talent or depth.
Special teams are not overlooked, with AJ Cole and Daniel Carlson being standout performers at punter and kicker, respectively, while return duties are handled by players like Tre Tucker and Ameer Abdullah, indicating a focus on special teams contributions from versatile players.
The roster has a fairly great depth chart when you talk about the guys that we know will make it. However, the Raiders' depth, especially in key positions like cornerback among others, remains a point of discussion. That is what this third preseason game is for -- players down the depth chart who can show they deserve to be on the 53-man roster.
Now that the Raiders are soon to cut down from 90 players to 53, there are some players who, we may have thought were almost locks to make the roster, and are now surprise cut candidates.
Three Raiders' Surprise Cut Candidates
LB Amari Burney
This one is surprising because Burney was just drafted by the Raiders last year, and so you would think coming into this year, with a firmer linebacker as his head coach, he could make some kind of jump. And while this isn't to say he hasn't done that, other players around him have just gotten better or leaped him on the depth chart.
Right now, we know for sure that Deablo and Spillane are locked to be ahead of Burney. Then, we know the Raiders love what Tommy Eichenberg has shown too as a rookie. Amari Gainer is fighting for a spot with a very impressive preseason so far, and of course, Luke Masterson and Kana'i Mauga may very well be ahead of Burney, too. This could be a surprise cut because he was just drafted last season.
DT Nesta Jade Silvera
This one is another case of a rookie from last year's draft class potentially being cut if he doesn't play well against the San Francisco 49ers. Jade Silvera hasn't done anything, really, worth standing out against both the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys. That's not to say he hasn't gotten better, because maybe he has but opportunities have been lower.
However, with the way the defensive tackle room is shaping up, I just don't see how the former seventh-round draft pick is still on the 53-man roster when that swings around. the Raiders will likely make him a practice squad player.
WR Jalen Guyton
Now, I'd like to preface this one by saying I think Guyton will make the roster, largely because of the retirement of Michael Gallup, the Raiders are left with a hole in their wide receiver room. But. Guyton was hurt all offseason and training camp, really, and didn't play much at all in this preseason.
So, because of some of the things we have seen from guys that aren't necessarily veterans in this league like Guyton is, who played for the Los Angeles Chargers under GM Tom Telesco, there is a chance he could have been beaten out. He is certainly a surprise cut candidate because he was signed as a free agent this summer, and has yet to play a down for the Raiders.
Related: Three Las Vegas Raiders players who lost their jobs after preseason loss to the Dallas Cowboys
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