It’s hard for me to believe that the Las Vegas Raiders‘ 2026 training camp is almost over because it feels like they were just getting started not too long ago. But here we are, with the Raiders preparing for their third and final preseason game of the campaign against the San Francisco 49ers and the league’s cutdown day looming on Sunday, Aug. 30. That also means it’s time for my final 53-man roster prediction.
The ‘previously’ sections below refer to the prediction ahead of the Houston Texans game.
Starter: Kirk Cousins
Backups: Fernando Mendoza (R)
Cut: Aidan O’Connell, Jacob Clark (R)
Cut: Aidan O’Connell, Jacob Clark (R)
Cut: Aidan O’Connell, Jacob Clark (R)
O’Connell had a much better performance in last week’s game than what he showed against the Arizona Cardinals. But if the coaching staff wants to keep an extra cornerback, or another player at a different position, then rolling with two quarterbacks will help make the math work out.
That’s especially true since O’Connell is heading into a contract year and, ideally, won’t see the field behind Cousins and Mendoza this season. The best case situation for Las Vegas is that AOC has a strong showing Thursday night to draw some trade interest ahead of cutdown day.
Starter: Ashton Jeanty
Backups: Mike Washington Jr. (R), Connor Heyward (FB), Dylan Laube
Cut: Roman Hemby (R), Dare Ogunbowale, Patrick Gurd (R, FB)
Backups: Mike Washington Jr. (R), Connor Heyward (FB), Dylan Laube
Cut: Roman Hemby (R), Dare Ogunbowale, Patrick Gurd (R, FB)
Backups: Mike Washington Jr. (R), Connor Heyward (FB), Dylan Laube
Cut: Roman Hemby (R), Dare Ogunbowale, Patrick Gurd (R, FB)
A couple of housekeeping items here: I’m lumping the fullbacks in with the running backs, and I’m writing this before we know the full extent of Jeanty’s injury. The Raiders seemingly avoided disaster with Jeanty suffering “just” a sprained ankle, but how much time he’ll miss is unknown and could alter how many running backs the coaching staff wants to begin the season with.
Hypothetically, say the 2025 first-round pick has to miss the first four games of the year. Then it might make sense to keep a veteran back like Ogunbowale around just in case. Plus, the team also has a question mark at kicker, and Ogunbowale has a career field goal percentage of 100%; one-for-one from 29 yards. (That’s a joke…kind of…)
Meanwhile, it seems like Laube established himself as the third running back with a strong performance in Houston last week, and Hemby seems like a good candidate for the practice squad.
Starters: Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech
Backups: Malik Benson (R), E.J. Williams (R), Shedrick Jackson
Cut: Dont’e Thornton Jr., Chase Roberts (R), Dareke Young, Phillip Dorsett II, Deven Thompkins, Noah Brown, Brandon Johnson
Backups: Malik Benson (R), E.J. Williams (R), Shedrick Jackson
Cut: Dont’e Thornton Jr., Chase Roberts (R), Dareke Young, Phillip Dorsett II, Deven Thompkins, Noah Brown, Brandon Johnson
Starters: Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech
Backups: Malik Benson (R), Dareke Young
Cut: Shedrick Jackson, E.J. Williams (R), Dont’e Thornton Jr., Chase Roberts (R), Phillip Dorsett II, Deven Thompkins, Brandon Johnson
To be honest, I’m still not really sure who is going to make the team at wide receiver. Klint Kubiak called out the entire position group last Friday, stating that he’s “still looking” for someone to step up and be accountable. That’s why I’m shifting to keeping just five wideouts, and the sixth spot could be left open for an outside hire. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Raiders take a hard look at the waiver wire and add a wideout after cutdown day.
Starter: Brock Bowers
Backups: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas
Cut: Carter Runyon, Albert Okwuegbunam, Chris Myarick
Cut: Carter Runyon, Albert Okwuegbunam, Chris Myarick
On the other end of the spectrum, it feels like tight end is pretty cut and dry. Bowers and Mayer were in street clothes last week—the former hasn’t played at all in the preseason, for that matter—while Thomas can round out the group and serve as a blocking tight end in 13 or 23 personnel. Also, fullback Connor Heyward has some position flexibility if the team gets in a pinch.
Starters: Kolton Miller, Spencer Burford, Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze
Backups: Charles Grant, Caleb Rogers, Atonio Mafi, Trey Zuhn III (R)
Cut: Dalton Wagner, Will Putnam, Jordan Meredith, Kamar Missouri (R), Justin Pickett (R), Isaiah Jatta (R), Niklas Henning (R), Braeden Daniels
Starters: Kolton Miller, Spencer Burford, Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze
Backups: Charles Grant, Caleb Rogers, Atonio Mafi, Trey Zuhn III (R)
Cut: Dalton Wagner, Will Putnam, Jordan Meredith, Kamar Missouri (R), Justin Pickett (R), Isaiah Jatta (R), Niklas Henning (R), Braeden Daniels
It feels like there’s only one open roster spot in the trenches for Las Vegas, and it’s a battle between Meredith, Mafi and Putnam. Of the three, Meredith has had the worst preseason to be on the chopping block. Meanwhile, Mafi has had issues in pass protection but has been impressive in the running game, and Putnam’s been the opposite.
Starters: Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce
Backups: Kwity Paye, Keryon Crawford (R), Cian Slone (R)
Cut: Jahfari Harvey, Patrick Johnson
On IR: Brennan Jackson
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Backups: Kwity Paye, Keryon Crawford (R), Cian Slone (R)
Cut: Jahfari Harvey, Patrick Johnson
Backups: Malcolm Koonce, Keryon Crawford (R), Cian Slone (R)
Cut: Jahfari Harvey, Patrick Johnson
It’s hard to leave Johnson off the roster with how well he’s played during the preseason. But the rebuilding Raiders aren’t in the business of rostering a 28-year-old who has looked good against backups or linemen on the roster bubble and would be the defense’s fourth edge defender, at best, this season. Maybe he can stick around as one of the vets on the practice squad, or John Spytek can use the veteran defensive end as trade bait.
Cut: Brandon Cleveland (R), Gary Smith II (R), Treven Ma’ae
Starters: Tonka Hemingway, Adam Butler
Backups: Thomas Booker IV, Jonah Laulu, JJ Pegues, Folorunso Fatukasi
Cut: Brandon Cleveland (R), Gary Smith II (R), Treven Ma’ae
Defensive tackle is another position that can fall into the “anyone’s guess” category. Fatukasi has only been in camp for about two weeks, signing last Friday, but he was the team’s best run defender in Houston to earn a roster spot. The two rookies—Cleveland and Smith—feel like they’re destined for the practice squad, but it also wouldn’t be surprising to see a surprise here. It’s another spot where an outside hire could be on the table.
Starters: Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker
Backups: Cody Lindenberg, Tommy Eichenberg, Segun Olubi
Cut: Xavian Sorey Jr. (R), Buddy Johnson, Cameron McGrone
Backups: Cody Lindenberg, Tommy Eichenberg, Segun Olubi
Cut: Xavian Sorey Jr. (R), Buddy Johnson, Cameron McGrone
Backups: Cody Lindenberg, Tommy Eichenberg, Segun Olubi
Cut: Xavian Sorey Jr. (R), Buddy Johnson, Cameron McGrone
I haven’t wavered at linebacker throughout the preseason, primarily because no one has given me a reason to. It seems like everyone in the position group is fulfilling the expectations that were set in front of them to begin camp. The biggest question is whether the coaching staff wants to keep a sixth linebacker for special teams, which is how Johnson could earn a spot.
Starters: Eric Stokes, Darien Porter, Taron Johnson
Backups: Hezekiah Masses (R), Jermod McCoy (R), Greedy Vance
Cut: Decamerion Richardson, Chigozie Anusiem, Caleb Offord (R), Devyn Perkins (R)
Backups: Hezekiah Masses (R), Jermod McCoy (R), Greedy Vance
Cut: Decamerion Richardson, Chigozie Anusiem, Caleb Offord (R), Devyn Perkins (R)
Starters: Eric Stokes, Darien Porter, Taron Johnson
Backups: Hezekiah Masses (R), Jermod McCoy (R), Greedy Vance, Decamerion Richardson
Cut: Caleb Offord (R), Devyn Perkins (R)
This feels like way too many cornerbacks, but the math works out if only two quarterbacks and five wide receivers make the 53-man. Plus, it’s a position where several young players have stood out during training camp to justify keeping seven corners. Also, Johnson and Vance have gotten some run at safety in camp to potentially bring some versatility and contribute at a few spots in the secondary.
Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao
Backups: Treydan Stukes (R), Dalton Johnson (R)
Cut: Tristin McCollum, Devin Lafayette (R)
Backups: Treydan Stukes (R), Dalton Johnson (R)
Cut: Tristin McCollum, Devin Lafayette (R)
Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Treydan Stukes (R)
Backups: Isaiah Pola-Mao, Dalton Johnson (R)
Cut: Tristin McCollum, Devin Lafayette (R)
McCollum could be an interesting case since he’s the only true backup free safety on the roster. If only six corners make it, he’d be my pick to fill the extra opening. Meanwhile, Stukes had a strong outing in Houston and took all of the reps with the starting defense during Monday’s practice while Pola-Mao rotated in, according to The Athletic’s Sam Warren.
Cut: Kansei Matsuzawa (R), Tyler Duzansky (R)
Cut: Kansei Matsuzawa (R), Tyler Duzansky (R)
There are no changes here, as Matsuzawa just further cemented that Gay will be the Raiders’ kicker to begin this season with the ‘Tokyo Toe’ missing a pair of extra points against the Texans. And I’m not enough of a sicko to even pretend like I have a pulse on the long-snapper competition.
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