With the Raiders’ third preseason game in the books and cuts starting to come in, here are my updated predictions for each position:
Quarterback (3):
Derek Carr
Matt McGloin
Christian Ponder
Details: No change to this area. These three are now the only QBs on the roster and it’s highly likely the team carries all three into the regular season. I would like to see McGloin move to the primary backup over Ponder, who has not impressed in preseason action.
Offensive Line (8):
OT Donald Penn
OG Gabe Jackson
OC Rodney Hudson
OG J’Marcus Webb
OT Austin Howard
OL Khalif Barnes
OG Jon Feliciano
OL Matt McCants
Details: Menelik Watson is out due to a season ending injury to his Achilles. I have Matt McCants taking his place because of his versatility as he is able to play both guard and tackle. I’d actually like to see McCants starting at right tackle over Howard but it probably won’t happen by week one. If Howard performs as poorly as I expect, however, McCants may get be starting after a few weeks.
Runningback (4):
Latavius Murray
Roy Helu Jr.
Taiwan Jones
RB-not-yet-on-the-team
Details: The top three are fairly locked in at this point, I think. The team has already cut Richardson. I previously had Dyer making the final squad but neither he nor Atkinson have shown enough to make me a believer at this point. I like Dyer’s potential but I’d prefer him on the practice squad with the team picking up another RB after cuts to bring in as an option behind Murray and Helu.
Fullback (1):
Marcel Reece
Details: No change for me, here. I think Olawale is likely out based on Musgrave’s tendency to go without the traditional fullback. Reece is being used more creatively than he has since Hue Jackson was in Oakland, which is a pleasant change.
Tight End (3):
Lee Smith
Mychal Rivera
Clive Walford
Details: Again, no change from my last iteration, here. These are the top 3 TEs, each has a role, and they are all three substantively ahead of Gabe Holmes, who is a good bet for the practice squad as long as he clears waivers.
Wide Receiver (6):
Michael Crabtree
Amari Cooper
Brice Butler
Rod Streater
Andre Holmes
Seth Roberts
Details: Initially, I had Kenbrell Thompkins and Trindon Holliday making the squad and didn’t have Brice Butler. Wow, does it look like I was off on this category. Butler is looking better every game and although he’s been known to have good preseason games and then disappear, I think this is the year he carries it over into the regular season.
Thompkins has already been cut, a bit of a surprise, but that increases the chances of Seth Roberts, who like Thompkins plays primarily in the slot, making the final team. Streater had a game on Sunday but he’s recently back and hasn’t had the reps of the other receivers and I think the coaches understand that, too. Andre Holmes has a broken hand and will be returning in the next week or two, hopefully.
Defensive Line (9):
DE Justin Tuck
DE Khalil Mack
DT Dan Williams
DT Justin Ellis
DE Benson Mayowa
DE Mario Edwards Jr
DE Denico Autry
DT Ricky Lumpkin
DE Shelby Harris
Details: Initially, I had C.J. Wilson making the team over Autry because of his versatility but Autry earned a start on Sunday (with Tuck sitting out for a rest) and he made the most of it, wreaking havoc on the Cardinals offensive line.
I think this position looks pretty set with Shelby Harris and Ricky being the only two I’m not very confident in making the squad. Stacy McGee had some good plays on Sunday but Lumpkin has a better first step and is a better penetrator and I’d take him over McGee at this point.
As with my first version, I have the team cutting Max Valles in favor of Harris. Valles has potential but hasn’t shown enough for me to think he makes the team unless the coaching staff just loves him. If he clears waivers, I think he is a great practice squad addition.
Linebacker (6):
Curtis Lofton
Malcolm Smith
Sio Moore
Ray-Ray Armstrong
Neiron Ball
Ben Heeney
Details: I have no change to this section although I debated whether to include Sio or not. The Raiders didn’t play him on defense at all on Sunday so he may be on the outs but I think his talent may win him a spot and he can then work his way back into a rotation and, potentially, a starting spot.
Cornerback (5):
TJ Carrie
DJ Hayden
Keith McGill
Neiko Thorpe
Dexter McDonald
Details: The only change I have here is that Dexter McDonald is now making the team as the 5th cornerback option where I previously had veteran signing James Dockery. Dockery has been waived in the first round cuts.
Safety (5):
Nate Allen
Charles Woodson
Larry Asante
Brandian Ross
Taylor Mays
Details: The team unexpectedly cut Jonathan Dowling, reportedly for immaturity issues and he was on my initial guess. I’ve put Taylor Mays on the squad as the 10th defensive back but I’m not sure on that one. Another possibility is that the team goes with six corners but I’m not sure who the sixth corner would be with Dockery and Ras-I Dowling both being cut so I don’t see that as likely at this point.
Special Teams (3):
K Sebastian Janikowski
LS Jon Condo
P Marquette King
Details: No changes and no surprises, here.
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