We all knew this day was coming. As of Saturday at 1 p.m., the Oakland Raiders were required to release 37 of their 90 players — leaving them with just 53 as they look ahead to Week 1 against the Denver Broncos next weekend. Of course, even those 53 weren’t guaranteed to make it to Week 1 — and even as Saturday moved to Monday, the Raiders were still moving.
The latest (last?) domino to fall was the announcement that Nathan Peterman would be headed to IR — so with that in mind, here’s where we currently stand (for fun I’ve included my predictions from May and last week to compare)…
So, with just 53 guys left standing (for now), let’s break down what happened…
QB
5/8 prediction: Derek Carr, Mike Glennon
8/29 prediction: Derek Carr, Nathan Peterman
Actual: Derek Carr, Mike Glennon, Deshone Kizer, Nathan Peterman (IR)
The shocker of the weekend was the addition of Kizer — which gave the Raiders twice as many QBs as many teams in the league. On Monday, the team moved Peterman to IR (eligible to come back in eight weeks) — leaving them with three. Still odd to keep three (especially if the reasoning isn’t “we were afraid to lose this guy), but what did you expect from Jon Gruden?
RB/FB
5/8 prediction: Josh Jacobs, Doug Martin, Jalen Richard, Chris Warren III
8/29 prediction: Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington, Keith Smith (FB)
Actual: Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington, Alec Ingold (FB)
One big surprise from Saturday’s cuts was the loss of Keith Smith. The veteran was a coach’s favorite, but Ingold is younger and cheaper — not to mention he showed well this preseason. He becomes UDFA No. 1.
WR
5/8 prediction: Antonio Brown, Ryan Grant, Tyrell Williams, Dwayne Harris, Hunter Renfrow, J.J. Nelson
8/29 prediction: Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, J.J. Nelson, Hunter Renfroe, Keelan Doss, Dwayne Harris, Ryan Grant
Actual: Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, JJ Nelson, Hunter Renfroe, Dwayne Harris, Ryan Grant
Pour one out for Keelan Doss. The undrafted free agent from down the street just couldn’t make the cut — despite his coach’s love for him. I never doubted that Grant would be on this team, and so I understand the cut of Doss. Unfortunately, he chose Jacksonville’s practice squad over Oakland’s. One thing I’ll say about Doss: it’s easy to fall in love with a guy because of the story and because of his performance in meaningless games (or on Hard Knocks) — but remember what we’re talking about here. He was the team’s sixth-best receiver and a guy every team in the league passed on in the draft and on waivers. Could he pan out long term? Sure. Is it likely? Nope. (This group serves as a reminder about how important the preseason really is — as my May projections were perfect, while my last-week-projections weren’t).
TE
5/8 prediction: Darren Waller, Derrick Carrier, Luke Willson, Foster Moreau
8/29 prediction: Darren Waller, Foster Moreau, Derek Carrier
Actual: Darren Waller, Foster Moreau, Derek Carrier
No surprises here. Will be interesting to see what the team has in Moreau, this year’s fourth-round pick.
OT
5/8 prediction: Kolton Miller, Brandon Parker, Trent Brown
8/29 prediction: Kolton Miller, Trent Brown, David Sharpe
Actual: Kolton Miller, Trent Brown, Brandon Parker, David Sharpe
Don’t think anyone expected the Raiders to keep two extra tackles, but here we are. Maybe they were afraid to cut last year’s third-rounder but thought Sharpe was better today? Who knows — but sure seems like neither guy is a great option (although league-wide there’s a shortage of talent, so maybe they liked the alternatives even less).
OG
5/8 prediction: Gabe Jackson, Chaz Green, Denzelle Good, Denver Kirkland
8/29 prediction: Richie Incognito*, Gabe Jackson, Denzelle Good, Jonathan Cooper, Jordan Devey
Actual: Richie Incognito (suspended), Gabe Jackson, Denzelle Good, Jonathan Cooper, Jordan Devey
Another group that went as expected. Will be interesting to see what they do when Incognito comes back from suspension (and Jackson from injury). Jackson will not be placed on IR, which shows optimism within the organization that he will be back within the first eight weeks.
C
5/8 prediction: Rodney Hudson
8/29 prediction: Rodney Hudson, Andre James
Actual: Rodney Hudson, Andre James
James, the converted tackle makes UDFA No. 2. That said, he might be the odd-man-out once the offensive line gets healthy, considering Devey was projected to be the backup center.
DE
5/8 prediction: Arden Key, Benson Mayowa, Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell, Josh Mauro
8/29 prediction: Arden Key, Benson Mayowa, Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell, Josh Mauro
Actual: Arden Key, Benson Mayowa, Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell, Josh Mauro
Perfect, perfect, perfect. Mauro was cut to make room for Kizer temporarily, but he was signed back on the roster when the Peterman-to-IR move was made official. This group should be around league-average, which is a massive upgrade over last year.
DT
5/8 prediction: Maurice Hurst, P.J. Hall, Eddie Vanderdoes, Justin Ellis, Johnathan Hankins
8/29 prediction: Jonathan Hankins, Maurice Hurst, P.J. Hall, Corey Liuget, Anthony Rush
Actual: Jonathan Hankins, Maurice Hurst, P.J. Hall, Corey Liuget
The deepest group in camp was trimmed to just four, with UDFA Anthony Rush thankfully making it onto the practice squad. Justin Ellis was placed on season-ending IR. There are high expectations for this group, and they might be on the verge of a breakout.
LB
5/8 prediction: Tahir Whitehead, Te’Von Coney, Vontaze Burfict, Jason Cabinda, Brandon Marshall, Marquel Lee
8/29 prediction: Vontaze Burfict, Brandon Marshall, Tahir Whitehead, Kyle Wilbur, Marquel Lee, Nicholas Morrow
Actual: Vontaze Burfict, Tahir Whitehead, Kyle Wilbur, Marquel Lee, Nicholas Morrow
The first big surprise of the weekend was cutting veteran Brandon Marshall — a guy many had penciled in as a starter this year. Apparently, however, he wasn’t up to speed and needed to go (might he be a guy they bring back in a few weeks? We’ll see). Wilbur was waived but was brought back when Isaiah Johnson was placed on IR.
CB
5/8 prediction: Gareon Conley, Isaiah Johnson, Daryl Worley, Trayvon Mullen, Nevin Lawson, Nick Nelson
5/8 prediction: Gareon Conley, Daryl Worley, Trayvon Mullen, Nevin Lawson, Keisean Nixon, Isaiah Johnson (IR)
Actual: Gareon Conley, Daryl Worley, Trayvon Mullen, Nevin Lawson (suspended), Keisean Nixon, Isaiah Johnson (IR)
Another group that is much improved from last season, and one that came without any surprises. Nick Nelson, last year’s fourth-round pick, was a disappointment and had no chance of making this team (although they did get him back on the practice squad). Nixon makes UDFA No. 3, while Johnson is eligible to return in eight weeks. Lawson is out for the first four weeks.
FS
5/8 prediction: Lamarcus Joyner, Erik Harris, Curtis Riley
8/29 prediction: Lamarcus Joyner, Jonathan Abram
Actual: Lamarcus Joyner, Jonathan Abram, Dallin Leavitt
Leavitt was the most surprising name by far to make the 53-man roster as you won’t find an expert anywhere who saw him coming. He was an UDFA last year and spent the season on the practice squad out of Utah State before being signed in December. He’ll be a key contributor on special teams.
SS
5/8 prediction: Johnathan Abram, Karl Joseph
8/29 prediction: Karl Joseph, Eric Harris
Actual: Karl Joseph, Eric Harris
Defining roles amongst safeties isn’t easy here, but Harris — a guy some thought was in jeopardy of getting cut — made it. Carrying five safeties is a bit odd, but as defensive coordinator Paul Guenther noted, with all the nickel coverage teams play now, you might need more safeties than linebackers.
K
5/8 prediction: Daniel Carlson
8/29 prediction: Daniel Carlson
Actual: Daniel Carlson
Never a doubt. Thankfully.
P
5/8 prediction: A.J. Cole
8/29 prediction: A.J. Cole
Actual: A.J. Cole
UDFA No. 4!
LS
5/8 prediction: Andrew DePaola
8/29 prediction: Trent Sieg
Actual: Trent Sieg
This one was over a couple weeks ago.
