Raiders training camp projected 53-man roster: Byron Young, Chris Smith II and other 2023 draft picks on chopping block

We’re about a week away from the Las Vegas Raiders training camp as rookies report on July 21 and the veterans will be back in town on the 23rd. So, let’s take an early look at a projected 53-man roster heading into camp.

Of course, a lot is going to change between now and September, so this will be revisited and updated as the preseason rolls along and we get more information on each of the players.

Quarterback

Roster: Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, Anthony Brown

Cut: Carter Bradley

I know I’ve been a big supporter of Bradley and mentioned that he has a good chance of beating out Brown. However, Bradley is still an undrafted rookie free agent and lacks experience, giving the veteran the advantage heading into camp. It’s Brown’s job to lose until the South Alabama product proves himself.

Running Back

Roster: Zamir White, Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Dylan Laube

Cut: Brittain Brown, Sincere McCormick

Brittain Brown had a good showing during the 2022 preseason but suffered an injury in last year’s training camp that kept him from replicating the performance. He could end up beating out Abdullah, especially if Laube proves capable of handling the third-down role, but the former seventh-round pick is still a mystery at this point.

As for McCormick, it’s going to take a lot for him to make the team as he’ll likely begin the summer behind Brown as the last running back on the depth chart.

Wide Receiver

Roster: Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Michael Gallup, Tulu Griffin

Cut: DJ Turner, Jalen Guyton, Kristian Wilkerson, Tyreik McAllister, Alex Bachman, Jeff Foreman, Ramel Keyton

Wide receiver is one of those positions where predicting how many players the Raiders will keep at the position also plays a big factor. With the expected emphasis on 12 personnel this season, the assumption here is only five wideouts will make it.

I’m also reversing course at wideout a little bit, giving the nod to an undrafted rookie, Griffin, over veterans like Turner and Guyton. The latter two haven’t done much over the last couple of years for various reasons while the Mississippi State product brings speed and a good track record as a returner in college. So, consider this the first bold prediction of the initial 53-man projection.

Tight End

 Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Roster: Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Harrison Bryant, John Samuel Shenker

Cut: Zach Gentry, Cole Fotheringham

There’s a chance Las Vegas keeps more than four tight ends since the offense is expected to lean heavily on the position, but we’ll leave it at four for now.

The Raiders don’t have a fullback on the roster, meaning that responsibility or role will likely come from this group. That’s the reason Shenker gets the nod as he took 52 snaps in the backfield last preseason, according to Pro Football Focus, and is a good blocker in the running game.

Granted, Fotheringham can block too as he’ll be competing for the job, but he wasn’t used in the fullback role last summer, giving Shenker the advantage heading into camp.

Offensive Line

Roster: Kolton Miller, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Andre James, Dylan Parham, Thayer Munford Jr., DJ Glaze, Andrus Peat, Cody Whitehair, Dalton Wagner

Cut: Jordan Meredith, Jalen McKenzie, Clark Barrington, Will Putnam, Ben Brown, Andrew Coker, Jake Johanning

Whitehair versus Meredith will be an interesting competition to keep tabs on as both players can lineup at all three interior offensive line spots. The former has the advantage right now though as he’s the only one who has played in Luke Getsy’s offense before.

Another noteworthy battle will be between Wagner and Coker as both are undrafted free agents—Wagner in 2023 and Coker this year—who line up at tackle. The Arkansas product has a slight edge seeing as he’s around a little longer and is the better run blocker of the two.

Defensive Line

Roster: Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, John Jenkins, Malcolm Koonce, Tyree Wilson, Janarius Robinson, Adam Butler, Elerson Smith, Nesta Jade Silvera, Marquan McCall

Cut: Byron Young, Matthew Butler, Charles Snowden, David Agoha (IPP), Tomari Fox, Ron Stone Jr., TJ Franklin, Noah Shannon

Young is probably the most shocking cut here as was a third-round pick last year. However, he was drafted to be a solid run defender and struggled in that role, leading to him being a healthy scratch for about half of the 2023 campaign. Meanwhile, Silvera showed more promise in that draft class. Also, Young (292 pounds) is too light to take on the backup nose tackle duties, leaving the door open for McCall to make the squad.

Linebackers

 Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Roster: Robert Spillane, Divine Deablo, Tommy Eichenberg, Luke Masterson, Kana’i Mauga

Cut: Darien Butler, Amari Burney, Amari Gainer

Linebacker is another position where how many players the Raiders keep on the active roster is a bit of a guessing game. If the team keeps five, Mauga is the favorite for that spot as he can contribute on special teams and earned a 71.7 PFF grade in that department in five games last season.

Meanwhile, Burney posted a mark of 41.7, and Butler suffered an injury in training camp a year ago. Granted, the latter did contribute on special teams as a rookie two seasons ago as he and Mauga will be the two favorites to earn the last spot on the depth chart.

Cornerback

Roster: Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs, Jakorian Bennett, Brandon Facyson, Decamerion Richardson, M.J. Devonshire

Cut: Sam Webb, Cornell Armstrong, Woo Governor, Ja’Quan Sheppard

Given the inexperience at the position group as a whole, cornerback is by far the hardest projection on the roster at this stage in the game. There are position battles up and down the depth chart as it’s anyone’s game.

Probably the biggest surprise from the prediction above is Devonshire over Webb, which simply comes down to the team and front office having more invested in the seventh-round pick. But, again, this is a very fluid position group and there will undoubtedly be some changes as the process goes along.

Safety

Roster: Tre’von Moehrig, Marcus Epps, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Chris Smith II

Cut: Trey Taylor, Jaydon Grant, Phalen Sanford

How many linebackers the Raiders keep will have the biggest impact on how many safeties end up making the roster as Patrick Graham could flip this around and keep five safeties and four backers instead. If that’s the case, Taylor will make the squad. He and Smith will likely be competing with each other for the final spot on the depth chart.

While the Air Force product makes bigger plays than the former Georgia Bulldog, he is also more susceptible to giving up big plays than the latter, who is the more conservative type of safety.