Raiders Release Byron Young in a Surprise Move

The NFL's roster cut deadline was on Tuesday afternoon, but moves are still being made across the league in anticipation of the start of the regular season next week. One such move came as a surprise for the Raiders as second-year defensive tackle Byron Young was released.

A third-round pick out of Alabama last year, Young had a tough preseason, finishing with a PFF grade of just 50.6. In his rookie season, he played just 99 snaps across six games and finished with a PFF grade of 45.6, ranking 147th out of 169 interior defensive linemen to play 90+ snaps.

This move comes on the heels of the Raiders landing former Colts defensive tackle Jonah Laulu off waivers, making Young expendable. Laulu was a seventh-round pick out of Oklahoma earlier this year and earned a PFF grade of 56.4 in the preseason.

Young is yet another example of a failed draft pick by the previous Raiders regime. Still, new general manager Tom Telesco is looking to turn the tides with the team's ability to accumulate young talent.

The Raiders' regular season begins on Sunday, September 8, at 1:05 PM PST with a road game against the Los Angeles Chargers.