The Las Vegas Raiders kick off training camp this week, as the team reported to Costa Mesa, California, on Tuesday, July 23. The team will hit the field for the first practice on Wednesday.
Las Vegas enters the 2024 campaign with playoff aspirations, as the team officially named Antonio Pierce as head coach and added a bunch of young and veteran talent.
Looking at the roster, we have a good idea of who most of the starters will be, but there are some positions where training camp will decide the starter, including at quarterback.
Let's go through our pre-training camp 53-man roster prediction for the Raiders before final cuts commence on August 27th.
Raiders 53-man roster prediction
Quarterbacks (3): Aidan O'Connell, Gardner Minshew, Anthony Brown Jr.
O'Connell and Minshew will fight for the starting spot throughout camp, but we're giving the nod to O'Connell. Though Minshew has more experience and nearly led the Colts to the playoffs, the 28-year-old doesn't raise the team's ceilings and has spent most of his career as a backup.
O'Connell showed flashes during his rookie campaign, tossing 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 5-5 record. The former fourth-round pick's potential is too high to waste on the bench, as he could prove to be Las Vegas' long-term answer at the position.
The Raiders could choose to keep two quarterbacks on the active roster, but Anthony Brown Jr.'s mobility and unique playstyle will add an intriguing element to the quarterbacks room.
Running Backs (4): Zamir White, Alexander Mattison, Dylan Laube, Ameer Abdullah
Zamir White filled in nicely for Josh Jacobs toward the end of last season and has an exciting mixture of speed and power. The 24-year-old will serve as the starter, but Alexander Mattison will also get a decent amount of looks.
Dylan Laube and Ameer Abdullah are dual-threat backs who will have major impacts on special teams and maybe sneak in a few offensive snaps.
Wide Receivers (6): Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Jalen Guyton, DJ Turner, Tulu Griffin
Adams and Meyers return as the top two receivers, while the explosive Tre Tucker will serve as the WR3. With the retirement of Michael Gallup, Jalen Guyton is expected to take over the WR4 gig when he returns from the PUP list .
DJ Turner and Tulu Griffin will occupy the final two spots, as Turner totaled 10 special teams tackles in 2023, and Griffin was a dynamic return man at Mississippi State.
Tight End (4): Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Harrison Bryant, Cole Fotheringham
Bowers and Mayer will form one of the most formidable tight-end duos in the NFL, while Bryant will serve as a veteran presence.
Fotheringham has been with the Raiders since 2022. Due to his experience and Las Vegas utilizing the tight end position more this year, the former Utah standout should be able to earn a roster spot and contribute on special teams.
Offensive Line (9): LT Kolton Miller, LG Jackson Powers-Johnson, C Andre James, RG Dylan Parham, RT Thayer Munford Jr., Andrus Peat, Cody Whitehair, DJ Glaze, Dalton Wagner
Miller, Parham and James will reprise their starting roles in 2024, though Parham will make the switch to right guard . Versatile rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson will serve as the left guard, while Thayer Munford Jr. is the favorite to be the starting right tackle.
Andrus Peat and Cody Whitehair are versatile veterans who can play multiple positions and compete for starting spots. DJ Glaze and Dalton Wagner are two young tackles with potential.
Defensive Line (5): Christian Wilkins, John Jenkins, Adam Butler, Byron Young, Nesta Jade Silvera
The Raiders' big free-agent splash, Christian Wilkins, will anchor the interior of the defensive line, while John Jenkins will return as a starter in his second campaign with the Silver and Black.
Adam Butler, who posted five sacks last season, is a pivotal depth piece who will be a free agent next offseason. 2023 third-round pick Byron Young played just six games in his rookie campaign but could establish himself as an adequate role player on the defensive line.
2023 seventh-round pick Nesta Jade Silvera will fight for a roster spot but gets the nod over Matthew Butler for now.
EDGE (5): Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce, Tyree Wilson, Janarius Robinson, Ron Stone Jr.
Crosby and Koonce are one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL and will look to wreak havoc in 2024. Tyree Wilson had a disappointing rookie campaign but has all the potential and physical tools to have a bounce-back second year.
Former fourth-round pick Janarius Robinson and undrafted free agent Ron Stone Jr. will serve as depth pieces and special teamers.
Linebackers (4): Robert Spillane, Divine Deablo, Tommy Eichenberg, Luke Masterson
Though keeping five linebackers is on the table, Las Vegas will be fine with keeping four on the active roster. Spillane and Deablo provide a fascinating mixture of calculated physicality and coverage support, while Eichenberg and Masterson are solid depth contributors and premier special teamers.
Cornerback (6): Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs, Jakorian Bennett, Decamerion Richardson, Brandon Facyson, M.J. Devonshire
Jones and Hobbs will return as starters, but the departure of Amik Robertson leaves a void at the second boundary corner spot.
Jakorian Bennett, Decamerion Richardson, and Brandon Facyson will fight for the role, but we gave the nod to Bennett due to his strong spring. Seventh-rounder M.J. Devonshire squeezes in as the sixth corner, as Vegas lacks depth at the position.
Safeties (4): Marcus Epps, Tre’von Moehrig, Trey Taylor, Isaiah Pola-Mao
Epps and Moehrig are locked-in as the starters, as the duo played well last season and are a fantastic fit together. Trey Taylor was a steal in the seventh round and will play some defensive snaps and contribute on special teams. Isaiah Pola-Mao totaled 20 tackles and an interception last season and should find his way back on the roster in 2024.
Specialists (3): K Daniel Carlson, P AJ Cole, LS Jacob Bobenmoyer
Carlson and Cole are arguably the best kicker and punter duo in the NFL, as Cole was an all-pro last season and Carlson hit 86% of his kicks. Jacob Bobenmoyer will return as the long snapper for the 2024 campaign.
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