There was an interesting moment on this past week’s ‘Hard Knocks’ episode, with Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr chatting on the side of the practice field. The topic? Cutdown days that were just around the corner — and they both were lamenting the talent that the team would have to let go.
For most teams, this is a normal moment in a season — but for the Raiders? It felt unique. It felt new. The idea of cutting good players is a foreign concept — and yet, it’s necessary for teams to reach the place the Raiders are hoping to get.
So, with credit to general manager Mike Mayock and Gruden, let’s look at some predictions for the 53-man roster (to see my post-draft predictions, click here)…
QB: Derek Carr, Nathan Peterman
I just don’t see them cutting Peterman. I think Gruden sees a project and sees the potential for a future guy he can count on — and so I think he gambles and gives himself time to develop him as long as Carr is healthy. Plus, I wonder if you could move Glennon for a late-round pick to a team who needs a QB?
RB/FB: Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington, Keith Smith (FB)
Once Doug Martin was placed on IR, this group became pretty straightforward. Undrafted rookie Alec Ingold is a safe bet to make the practice squad.
WR: Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, JJ Nelson, Hunter Renfroe, Keelan Doss, Dwayne Harris, Ryan Grant
If it were up to me, Harris would be gone. I just don’t like spending a roster spot on a guy with such limited upside outside of special teams, BUT Gruden loves the guy. I think Doss is a sure-fire roster lock, which leaves Nelson and Grant competing for the last spot. Nelson was great to open camp (before suffering an ankle sprain), while Grant has been a guy Gruden has been after for a couple of years. Ultimately I couldn’t decide so I kept them both. Maybe Nelson sneaks onto IR and just sits out the first eight weeks?
TE: Darren Waller, Foster Moreau, Derek Carrier
Waller is going to be a beast, and behind him, it was a battle for roster spots. Moreau, the rookie, was a safe bet, while Carrier seems to have won the last spot over guys like Luke Willson and Paul Butler.
OT: Kolton Miller, Trent Brown, David Sharpe
I’ve got Sharpe winning the swing tackle spot over last year’s third-round pick Brandon Parker. Not a great look, but you take the best player — and that seems to be Sharpe.
OG: Richie Incognito*, Gabe Jackson, Denzelle Good, Jonathan Cooper, Jordan Devey
Incognito is suspended for the first two weeks, while Jackson is out for even longer than that. The good news is Incognito doesn’t count against the 53-man roster, so Good, Devey and Cooper will be the Week 1 guys in uniform. The Raiders could put Jackson in IR and wait eight weeks, but is it worth it if he’s back in four?
C: Rodney Hudson, Andre James
Hudson is the best center in the game, and James is a fun story. Dude was a left tackle in college last year and has converted to center. If he doesn’t stick here, he seems like a potential practice squad guy.
DE: Josh Mauro, Clelin Ferrell, Maxx Crosby, Benson Mayowa, Arden Key
No surprises here. It’s not a high-ceiling group, but this is an NFL caliber defensive end room for sure.
DT: Jonathan Hankins, Maurice Hurst, PJ Hall, Corey Liuget, Anthony Rush
The most intense battle for roster spots was here — with guys like Justin Ellis, Ethan Westbrooks and Eddie Vanderdoes packing their bags. Rush, the undrafted rookie, has been a beast — while Liuget’s late-camp signing probably means he is safe. Former second-rounder Hall gets one more chance to make an impression (can’t imagine they cut Parker and Hall one year after spending Day 2 picks on them both).
LB: Vontaze Burfict, Brandon Marshall, Tahir Whitehead, Kyle Wilbur, Marquel Lee, Nicholas Morrow
Once a position the Raiders ignored, the veterans Burfict and Marshall should bring stability to this group. While Wilbur, Lee and Morrow are not guys you want to see starting in the NFL, as back-ups it’s a pretty strong group. Second-year guy Jason Cabinda hopefully sneaks through to the practice squad for organizational depth.
CB: Gareon Conley, Daryl Worley, Trayvon Mullen, Nevin Lawson, Keisean Nixon, Isaiah Johnson (IR)
Did I mention that 2018 was a ROUGH draft for the Raiders? As I tweeted on Wednesday night, there’s a world where the team cuts their second (PJ Hall), third (Brandon Parker) and fourth (Nick Nelson) round picks from last year. Oh, and they already said goodbye to a fifth-round pick in punter Johnny Townsend!
I think Nixon’s impressive summer gets him a spot, while the Raiders try to sneak Isaiah Johnson onto IR to “rehab his ankle”. He was a project to begin with, so with roster spots in high demand, let him recover and improve before making a decision.
FS: Lamarcus Joyner, Jonathan Abram
SS: Karl Joseph, Eric Harris
Safety was a tough one, with Curtis Riley getting the axe. If Lamarcus Joyner is going to play mostly slot corner, can they really get by with just three other safeties? We’ll see — but if Gruden has to choose between a receiver and a safety? My guess is he goes offense.
K: Daniel Carlson
P: A.J. Cole
LS: Trent Sieg
Nothing surprising here as all these decisions have already been made. Three youngsters the Raiders are hoping to pencil in here for the next decade.
