The Las Vegas Raiders participated in their final preseason game on Friday night, which resulted in a tie against the San Francisco 49ers , 24-24.
The Raiders will now spend the next few days cutting the roster down to the league-required 53 players before taking on the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on September 8th.
Raiders starters didn't see the field at all during Friday's contest, making it a fantastic opportunity for fringe roster players to showcase why they should make the team.
Some took advantage of increased opportunities, while others didn't turn in their best performances. Here are the biggest winners and losers from the Raiders' tie with the 49ers in the preseason finale.
Winner: EDGE Charles Snowden
Snowden has had a quiet preseason but put together the best performance of his young NFL career at the perfect time. The 26-year-old posted one sack, one tackle for loss, and three quarterback hits and was unblockable when he was on the field.
The former undrafted free agent strengthened his case for a roster spot during the preseason finale, as he was arguably the Raiders' best defensive player.
Winner: WR Tyreik McAllister
Before Friday's game, McAllister was considered a longshot to make the team, but the 26-year-old put on a show in front of the home fans to end the preseason. The former CFL standout hauled in two catches for 56 yards and one touchdown and also had an explosive 81-yard punt return TD .
With the Raiders' shaky wide receiver depth, McAllister could be a surprise keep on the 53-man roster due to his big-play ability in the passing and return games.
Loser: RB Dylan Laube
After an electric training camp in Costa Mesa, Laube had an underwhelming preseason and struggled once again on Friday. The 24-year-old rushed for just 12 yards, hauled in one catch for six yards and lost a fumble toward the end of the first quarter.
The sixth-round rookie will likely be on the roster due to his special teams potential and dual-threat ability, but there's no denying that he's off to a disappointing start.
Winner: LB Amari Gainer
Gainer was everywhere during Friday's win, posting a team-high 11 tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss while bringing energy every single play.
The 24-year-old showcased why he should be given an opportunity to develop under the new coaching staff, putting together a solid preseason on defense and special teams.
Winner: WR Kristian Wilkerson
Wilkerson may have cemented his roster spot on Friday, snagging three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown. The former Patriot is one of the leading candidates to be the No. 5 or No. 6 receiver and should be a key depth piece for the Silver and Black this season.
Winner: WR Ramel Keyton
The undrafted free agent out of Tennessee led the team in catches (four) and receiving yards (76) and added his name to the mix of players in consideration for the last couple of wide receiver spots.
Keyton and quarterback Carter Bradley hooked up a few times during the game-tying drive in the fourth quarter, as Keyton displayed his impressive hands multiple times during the series.
Loser: WR Jalen Guyton
McAllister, Wilkerson, and Keyton were winners, but at Jalen Guyton's expense. The 28-year-old has been nonexistent throughout the preseason and hasn't done enough to solidify a roster spot.
Guyton could still squeeze his way onto the roster due to his experience and big-play ability that he's shown in the past, but the veteran's future in Las Vegas is bleak.
Winner: CB Sam Webb
Webb is fighting for one of the final cornerback spots and turned in a solid performance to close out the preseason. The 26-year-old posted eight tackles and a deflected a pass that resulted in an interception.
The Raiders will likely keep six cornerbacks, and Webb could be in consideration for one of those last few spots after an excellent performance on Friday.
Winner: S Chris Smith
Smith wrapped up his second preseason with the Raiders on a high note, posting five tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. The former Georgia Bulldog may have just played himself into one of the backup safety roles with his performance on Friday.
Comments / 0