Tuesday, the Las Vegas Raiders got down to the mandatory initial 53-man roster making several cuts.
Here is the Raiders’ current 53-man roster via the team.
Here are some thoughts on the moves:
The releases of sixth-round picks, wide receiver Tommy Mellott and quarterback Cam Miller were interesting. If neither are claimed (and there is no sure thing they will be claimed), I’d expect both players to go on the Raiders’ practice squad.
If Miller is claimed, the Raiders will likely add another quarterback to the practice squad. Keep an eye on former Tampa Bay backup Kyle Trask. He has history with Raiders’ general manager John Spytek. I always thought Mellott was competing more with running back Dylan Laube than anything and Laube played better on special teams in the preseason. They could also try to claim Kyle McCord on waivers. He was taken by the Eagles one pick after Las Vegas drafted J.J. Pegues in the sixth round and he went 34 picks before Miller.
Mellott and Miller were the only two of the Raiders’ 11 draft picks not to make the initial 53-man roster.
Seventh-round pick, linebacker Cody Lindenberg made it as both he and 2024 seventh-round pick Tommy Eichenberg made it four veteran newcomers Germaine Prattt, Devin White, Elandon Roberts and Jamal Adams, in his first NFL season as a linebacker after spending the first eight seasons of his career at safety.
No 2025 undrafted free agent made the initial 53-man roster, but expect some to be on the practice squad. Center Will Putman, a 2024 undrafted free agent who was on the practice squad last season, made the roster.
Safety Trey Taylor did not make the team and there are now six players remaining from the Raiders’ eight-player 2024 draft class remaining on the roster. Taylor was a seventh-round pick last year.
The Raiders put safety Lonnie Johnson on the injured reserve and he could return during the season. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell was not put on the IR even though he is expected to be out for 6-8 weeks with a fractured wrist. Expect him to go on the IR soon after the Raiders make some moves in the coming days, including some possible waiver claims Wednesday.
Among the areas Las Vegas could took to add include wide receiver, the defensive line and cornerback and safety.
The Raiders only have four safeties, Jeremy Smith, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Thomas Harper and Chris Smith. Veteran Terrell Edmunds was released but he could return if the Raiders don’t make an add this week at the position.
The Raiders kept six defensive tackles as they move on in the post-Christian Wilkins life. They are Adams Butler, Jonah Laula, rookies Tonka Hemingway and Pegues, Thomas Booker and Leki Fotu. It wouldn’t be a surprise if that position is fluid.
Some expected backup tackle Thayer Munford to be cut after a miserable preseason (he gave up a sack on the play O’Connell was injured on), but he remains on the roster.
The Raiders kept four pass-rushers, starters Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce and Tyree Wilson and Charles Snowden. They are all holdovers. If was somewhat a surprise that Snowden was kept over Andre Carter, who has a strong preseason.
The Raiders are rolling with rookie Ashton Jeanty, free-agent addition Raheem Mostert and incumbents Zamir White and Laube, who will likely be mostly a special teamer. Sincere McCormick was cut, but perhaps he will come back on the practice squad.
It’s no surprise the Raiders didn’t trade wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, a day after his trade request became public. The Raiders don’t want to trade Meyers and they need him. They could still come to an agreement if it’s just a bump in pay for this season and then allow him to go into free agency in 2026.
For now, Meyers is with the Raiders and will will be interesting to see how both sides handle it. But everything is fluid. Just like safety Kyle Dugger in New England (there was speculation Meyers and Dugger could be traded for each other), Meyers is staying put for now. That doesn’t mean either player will stay with their current teams.
For now, the Raiders are rolling with Meyers, the newly signed Amari Cooper, young veteran Tre Tucker and rookies Jack Becha and Dont’e Thornton. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Raiders add there.
The Raiders could make some waiver claims Wednesday morning. Among the potential fits include Jacksonville linebacker Chad Muma and Indianapolis cornerback JuJu Brents Both some to be nice fits for Pete Carroll’s defense.
It will be interesting to if guard Laki Tasi is claimed. On one hand, it seems silly to think someone with so little experience playing football would be claimed. But Tasi is a massive, natural athlete who look good in the preseason. He could be stolen Wednesday. No NFL International Pathway Player has ever been claimed after the 53-man cut so it would be a big deal if someone does claim Tasi. If not, expect the Raiders to get the chance to add him to the practice squad.
As expected, Booker made the roster. He was acquired for cornerback Jakorian Bennet in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles three weeks. Bennett made the Eagles’ 53-man roster, so both teams are pleased with the deal.
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