September has arrived at that can only mean one thing for players still vying for a spot on a regular season NFL roster: finals cuts are coming. By the end of Thursday night, every NFL team will have played their final preseason game and by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, every NFL team must cut their 75-man rosters to the regular season 53.
Like many other clubs in the NFL, the Oakland Raiders have a tall task ahead of them. Whittling the roster down to 53 players will likely leave some standout training camp players clearing their lockers on Saturday afternoon. Thursday’s preseason finale and the Friday waiting game will go a long way toward head coach Jack Del Rio and general manager Reggie McKenzie’s final say, but there’s no harm in playing the odds.
QB: Derek Carr, Matt McGloin, Connor Cook
The Raiders traditionally have entered the season with only two quarterbacks on roster, but the selection of Connor Cook in the fourth round will buck that trend in 2016.
RB: Latavius Murray, DeAndre Washington, Taiwan Jones
The addition of DeAndre Washington makes for a good supplement beside Latavius Murray. Taiwan Jones has proven his worth as the team’s best special teams returner. The odd man out may be training camp standout Jalen Richard, whose similarity to Washington may make him too redundant for a roster spot.
FB: Marcell Reece, Jamize Olawale
Few teams carry a true fullback, let alone two. Reece remains a quality offensive chess piece, while Olawale may offer the best alternate to Latavius Murray’s bell-cow role.
WR: Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Andre Holmes, Seth Roberts, Johnny Holton
The top four in this group are all but guaranteed while Johnny Holton looks to crash the party as a camp standout. At 6’3” Holton possesses surprising quickness and over-the-top speed which has been vividly on display all preseason.
TE: Clive Walford, Lee Smith, Mychal Rivera
Lee Smith remains in the starting role while Walford regains his leg from an offseason fraught with motorsports accidents. Mychal Rivera adds a dynamic receiving option as a psuedo wide receiver.
OT: Donald Penn, Menelik Watson, Austin Howard
Despite questions about age, experience, and health, all three options at tackle posses starting quality. Although Watson projects as the starter at right tackle, his future may eventually come as Penn’s incumbent on the left side.
OG: Kelechi Osemele, Gabe Jackson, Vadal Alexander, Denver Kirkland
The Raiders will enter 2016 with on the league’s best guard tandems in the league. Osemele and Jackson headline the group, while Alexander and Kirkland are solid rookie options to groom for the future.
C: Rodney Hudson, Jon Feliciano
Center rounds out a strong interior offensive line for the Raiders. Rodney Hudson remains among the league’s best centers and Feliciano offers flexibility at both center and guard.
DT: Dan Williams, Justin Ellis, Stacy McGee, Darius Latham
The interior of the offensive line is mirrored by the interior of the defensive line. The one newcomer may be undrafted rookie Darius Latham, who has been one of the best performing rookies at his position in the preseason.
DE: Mario Edwards Jr., Denico Autry, Jihad Ward
It will be trial by fire for second round pick Jihad Ward with Mario Edwards Jr. sidelined a rumored 6 weeks. Denico Autry is a solid option who may finally get his time to shine in a full time role.
Edge: Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin, Shilique Calhoun, James Cowser
If there was any question, Khalil Mack will be making the Raiders final roster. The same assurance extends to Bruce Irvin, who will bookend the Raiders 3-4 alignment. Third round draft pick Shilique Calhoun could be paired with undrafted rookie James Cowser as competent designated pass rushers.
LB: Ben Heeney, Malcolm Smith, Neiron Ball, Cory James
The Raiders bucked expectation when they shunned the opportunity to acquire a new starter in the second level. Heeney takes on a new role as lead man in the middle, while Malcolm Smith projects to reprise his role on the weak side. Behind the starters are high upside backups Neiron Ball and Cory James.
Cornerback: Sean Smith, David Amerson, D.J. Hayden, T.J. Carrie, Dexter McDonald
While there are changes at the top and bottom, the cornerback group brings back three starters from a year ago. There is a lively fight for the fifth corner spot, but McDonald has reportedly shown to be the best among the rest.
Safety: Reggie Nelson, Karl Joseph, Nate Allen, Dewey McDonald
Even with Charles Woodson gone to retirement, depth looks solid at safety. Like his cornerback counterpart, Dewey McDonald has stood out from his peers at safety and has the inside track to make the team through Saturday.
Special Teams:
P: Marquette King
K: Sebastian Janikowski
LS: Jon Condo
Suspended: Aldon Smith (does not count against the final 53)
