Early Las Vegas Raiders 53-man roster projection

The Las Vegas Raiders won’t start training camp till the middle of July, but they have already began turning over the bottom of the roster following optional OTA’s signing defenders Cameron McGrone (LB) & Benito Jones (NT) while waiving WR Brenden Rice, and placing DT Brodric Martin on the IL. For the first time in 7 years, the Raiders didn’t carry an undrafted free agent on the initial 53 man roster in 2025, I’d expect that to change in 2026 with multiple UDFA’s having a good chance at pushing for

the 53 man roster. When taking a look at roster predictions, a core factor is what the previous coach has done in his prior experience, in this term Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak carried the following on his roster in 2025: 3 QB, 3 RB, 2 FB, 6 WR, 4 TE, 9 OL. Of those, the projections are relatively similar to that with Las Vegas this year, though I project they keep two less FB/TE, but if they choose to keep the same amount it shouldn’t be a difficult path for Patrick Gurd. Additionally, of their three quarterbacks, one in Jalen Milroe, was a third round developmental player, which Las Vegas currently doesn’t hold on the roster. Defensively, it’s a free for all, with DC Rob Leonard having never held a DC position, and it’s hard to project based on previous seasons, though his 11 DL remain likely the core on defense as they were in the last two seasons.

Quarterback (2): Fernando Mendoza (R), Kirk Cousins
Released: Aidan O’Connell (trade candidate), Jacob Clark (R)

Las Vegas carries just two quarterbacks, though I can certainly see three quarterbacks if the team tries to keep Aidan O’Connell on the roster. O’Connell will likely garner trade interest as a backup quarterback come roster cuts. Mendoza competes to take the starting role from Cousins, and I likely think that Mendoza will take the starting job within the first few weeks. The modern NFL bounces between two and three quarterbacks, though Clark can serve as an adequate practice squad arm that needs development.

Running back (3): Ashton Jeanty, Mike Washington Jr (R), Dylan Laube
Released: Roman Hemby (R), Chris Collier

This is a spot where three running backs can be upgraded to four given how Klint Kubiak’s emphasis remains on the run game. Seattle carried four running backs last season, though Las Vegas doesn’t have a fourth back that can seemingly push as effectively as the others. Jeanty and Washington are the two workhorse backs, with Laube as a serviceable third back as well. Laube hasn’t provided much as a runner, though he’s been excellent on special teams with 11 tackles, 0 missed tackles, and 39 kick returns for 1019 yards in his career. Laube has a history as a productive back in college, he’ll have to compete with Hemby, who needs to provide on special teams.

Fullback (1): Connor Heyward
Released: Patrick Gurd (R)

Heyward is the clear cut fullback, he’s likely not facing much competition though Cincinnati UDFA Patrick Gurd could push for the spot given his track record at the position, and limited guaranteed money on Heyward’s contract. Heyward has flexibility to rotate between TE and FB, and essentially can act as a fourth pure blocking TE that Klint Kubiak favors in his offense. Gurd was an excellent blocker at Cincinnati, he’s limited as a receiver, but should push Heyward for a roster spot.

Wide Receiver (6): Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, Malik Benson (R), Dont’e Thornton, Dareke Young
Released: Phillip Dorsett, Shedrick Jackson, Corey Rucker (R), EJ Williams (R), Chase Roberts (R), Jonathan Brady (R)

This is a room where some true battles can happen, and it’s a room not talked about. Nailor, Tucker, and Bech are the locks to make the roster. I’d imagine Dareke Young is someone who can certainly make the roster solely for his special teams value where he’s logged a career 25 tackles, with just 6 missed tackles while also adding 2 FR, and a FF, alongside 300 KR yards on 10 attempts. Young isn’t overly productive as a receiver, though it’s possible he can add more upside and develop. Young’s biggest competition is UDFA Chase Roberts, who has a similar frame, but he’ll have to massively out produce ST value and improve his drops. The biggest mark that’s not guaranteed is Dont’e Thornton, the 4th rounder last season has an inside track off his draft value, but he’s extremely limited as a receiver in a large number of areas, and improvements need to be made. Corey Rucker is a shifty Z/slot receiver similar to Jalen Nailor, and could push for a spot, as could Shedrick Jackson who has elite speed at a 4.24 40, and the nephew of Bo Jackson could make a spot with his pure speed, and improved route running. The room isn’t great but there’s roughly two spots up for grabs though Thornton and Young have an inside track as is, but I really wouldn’t count out Shedrick Jackson who reminds me heavily of Rashid Shaheed.

Tight End (3): Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Carter Runyon
Released: Ian Thomas, Albert Okwuegbunam Jr

This room comes down to two things, if the Raiders carry four tight ends, and if Carter Runyon can push out Ian Thomas. I wrote about Runyon earlier in another article, and I like the upside he brings. The 6’6, 245 pound tightend has an excellent frame, was a capable receiver, and he also does well in terms of his blocking. Ian Thomas re-signed late in the free agent cycle, and the veteran has a similar path to the roster as Runyon. He’ll need to improve as a blocker off last season where he struggled mightily, and an issue for someone who’s only made his career as a blocker. Runyon is young, has a great frame, and he blocks well, if he can do that at a similar or better level than Thomas (which based on last year, he did) then the spot is his as he provides more receiving value as well. If Las Vegas goes with four tight ends, as Kubiak did in Seattle then it’s a clear cut spot for both Thomas and Runyon as blockers, though with Heyward’s ability to play inline TE, that’s hard to see.

Offensive Line (9): Kolton Miller, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Tyler Linderbaum, Caleb Rogers, DJ Glaze, Charles Grant, Trey Zuhn (R), Spencer Burford, Jordan Meredith
Released: Dalton Wagner, Isaiah Jatta (R), Niklas Henning (R), Will Putnam, Atonio Mafi, Kamari Missouri (R), Justin Pickett (R)

This room is rather simple, though there’s a few toss ups. Miller, Glaze, Grant, Linderbaum, Rogers, Zuhn, and Powers-Johnson are locked into the roster leaving two spots for three possible players (Burford, Meredith, and Wagner). I lean keeping 6 IOL and just three tackles for the emphasis that Trey Zuhn can play as a 4th tackle, while also being an option to start or backup at G. Additionally, Jordan Meredith provides depth at G and backup C while Jackson Powers-Johnson can play the role as well. Caleb Rogers, Spencer Burford, Powers-Johnson, Meredith, and Zuhn are all competing for two starting G spots, and I lean Rogers and JPJ as the starters, though Zuhn will give a hard push for his spot as well. It’s a rather deep room, and if Las Vegas chooses to carry 4 T and 5 IOL, as many teams do then it’s likely Dalton Wagner takes the fourth spot and Spencer Burford or Jordan Meredith are on the way out (something I can truly see happening as well). As for those on the roster beyond Wagner I don’t see a huge path for most as they’ll need development and can do so on the practice squad.

Defensive Tackle (6): Adam Butler, Thomas Booker, Jonah Laulu, Tonka Hemingway, JJ Pegues, Bonito Jones (NT)
Released: Treven Ma’ae, Brandon Cleveland, Laki Tasi, Gary Smith III (R)

This room is a tight one, the 6th DT will come down to one pure fact which is if Las Vegas chooses to make the 53 roster spot a DT, ILB, or somewhere else. Butler, Hemingway are locked into the roster, and I truly lean that Booker, Laulu are likely to make it with Las Vegas seeking more development from their room. If Las Vegas goes with just 5 defensive tackles, then it comes down to JJ Pegues or Brandon Cleveland, who could be battling for the NT position. Despite that, I have both making the roster with Pegues playing a diverse 0-4 Tech position and Cleveland the true NT. Las Vegas is valuing versatility on their defensive line and secondary, and with Pegues having versatility it’s easy to see a path for his roster spot. Cleveland does have an uphill battle, but he performed well as a true NT at NC State, and if he doesn’t make the roster then he’s a clear practice squad option. As for the rest of the room, Treven Ma’ae could push for a spot along with Pegues/Cleveland, after a really strong 2025 pre-season. Martin & Smith are battling for a true NT position, should Las Vegas be choosing to even carry one. Tasi is at least another year off his development now shifting back to NT, but the IPP athlete has the size, athleticism, and strength to be capable NT in the NFL in another year or two. The recent signing of Benito Jones does change some things, with Jones, who’s played nearly 2000 snaps in his career, having experience as a true 1-2 gap NT under Rob Leonard. Of the Raiders top NT options, Jones has the clearest path to the roster, and will allow Cleveland a season of developmental work on the practice squad.

EDGE Rusher (5): Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce, Kwity Paye, Keyron Crawford (R), Cian Slone (R)
Released: Jahfari Harvey, Brennen Jackson

Brennen Jackson is coming off a massive foot injury, and he’ll likely be the main candidate if Las Vegas chooses to go with 5 EDGE rushers, as they have in recent seasons under Rob Leonard. Jackson has a good frame, is a powerful player, and he defends the run well. He’ll provide a different form of player than Cian Slone, though Slone is a far better pass rusher with pure violence. I’m a big fan of Slone which causes me to lean him here, and I think he’ll make the roster fully off his violence, speed to power, and potential to be a capable pass rusher in the NFL as a UDFA. The 5th pass rusher comes down to those two, and Jahfari Harvey, along with if Las Vegas goes with 5 EDGE rushers over 4. Koonce, Crosby, Paye, and Crawford are guaranteed to be on the roster, so there’s not really a huge battle for those four spots.

Linebacker (5): Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, Tommy Eichenberg, Cody Lindenberg, Segun Olubi
Released: Xavian Sorey (R), Chris Thomas (R), Cameron McGrone

If Las Vegas goes with one less defensive tackle or DB I can see it being to carry a 6th linebacker. Las Vegas will live out of sets with just two linebackers which puts less stress on needing 6 linebackers. Beyond Dean/Walker, that leaves a small battle for three spots between Eichenberg, Lindenberg, Olubi, Sorey, and Thomas (McGrone has a chance but I see it very uphill). Eichenberg will make the roster off his elite specail teams value, and he provided decent in his limited reps defensively. Lindenberg looked good on defense in pre-season, and also provides good ST value, which can be said the same for Olubi. Las Vegas doesn’t have a ton of experience behind their two starters at linebackers, and with both Walker/Dean having an injury history it’s possible they look for another veteran which would then shift this to easily six linebackers. Las Vegas values special teams, which gives Eichenberg, Lindenberg, and Olubi a good track for their roster spots and Thomas/Sorey will need to show out in pre-season and especially on special teams to take a spot over one of them.

Cornerback (6): Eric Stokes, Darien Porter, Taron Johnson, Jermod McCoy, Hezekiah Masses, Decamerion Richardson
Released: Chigozie Anusiem, Greedy Vance, Devyn Perkins (R), Caleb Offord (R)

This room is a battle of 5 or 6 roster spots. Stokes, Porter, Johnson, McCoy (if healthy), and Masses are the five cornerbacks making the roster. If Las Vegas decides to carry 6 cornerbacks then things get interesting with a battle for former 2023 4th rounder Decamerion Richardson to make the roster over others in the room. Perkins & Vance both provide depth at NCB, though with Las Vegas having two safeties in Stukes & Dalton Johnson who can both play NCB should Taron Johnson go down. If the Raiders decide to carry 6 cornerbacks, then Richardson’s biggest competition will come with Caleb Offord. I lean Richardson possibly getting the chance to make the roster off his pure athletic ability, and despite not playing in 2025 due to coaching differences, Richardson can easily take a spot on the roster, especially with his career history playing safety as well. The Raiders cornerback room can have some injury concerns as McCoy may miss most or all of 2026 pending on his knee, Eric Stokes has a history of injuries, and outside of them the room is rather young which leaves a spot for Richardson as well. I really bounced back and forth on what to do with this room, but decided to give Richardson the final roster spot as he also provides good special teams value over another safety.

Safety (4): Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Treydan Stukes (R), Dalton Johnson (R),
Released: Tristin McCollum, Tanner Wall (R), Dylan Lafayette (R)

Chinn will play a nickel backer role, Pola-Mao can play a rover strong safety, and Stukes is the true FS. Only taking four safeties does become a concern, which is why I think it could be five safeties and five cornerbacks instead of six and four, though with the roster as it is now I don’t see the value in Tristin McCollum over Decamerion Richardson, which is the true battle here. Tanner Wall is a fun UDFA to watch, he has good special teams value, and he has excellent ball skills, but there’s a lack of experience at safety which limits him. That said, if the Raiders go five safeties, Tanner Wall is a name to watch, or more likely a waiver claim at the end of roster cuts. Tristin McCollum spent most of last year on the roster, he has versatility, but he’s lacking in run defense, and was an average special teams player, though there’s some clear athleticism and size that is intriguing.

Special Teams (3): Kansei Matsuzawa (R), AJ Cole, Tyler Duzansky (R)
Released: Matt Gay, Alex Ward

I wanted to be interesting here, so I went with the rookies at both kicker and snapper over the veterans, though I can also see it being the complete opposite way. Matsuzawa has a concern with only 2 attempts from 50+, but he has the leg to do so, and was simply not asked to much at Hawaii. Additionally, Duzansky was the top LS in the class, and with Ward’s inconsistencies in his career, I think Duzansky who also is an exceptional tackler has an inside leg. Duzansky was the highest paid LS in NFL history as a UDFA, which will give him a rather high inside leg into the roster, with his guaranteed money higher than that of Alex Ward.

Practice Squad: