You always play to win the game, but the real value of the Las Vegas Raiders’ 24-23 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday was the insight gained on the competition for starting jobs and roster spots. Coach Antonio Pierce decided to play all of his healthy players, so everyone from star defensive end Maxx Crosby to undrafted rookie quarterback Carter Bradley suited up.
It was also a valuable trial run for the coaches — particularly new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy as he works on implementing his system — but for now, we’ll focus on the players. The Raiders have until Aug. 27 to cut their roster to 53 players.
Here’s The Athletic’s latest roster projection:
GO DEEPER
Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew play well in Raiders’ preseason loss to Vikings
Quarterback (3)
Starter: Aidan O’Connell
Backups: Gardner Minshew, Anthony Brown
Cuts: Carter Bradley
Analysis: O’Connell got the start against the Vikings and performed well, completing 7 of 9 passes for 76 yards on a drive that ended in a field goal. Not to be outdone, Minshew flashed in the second quarter and led the offense to three scoring drives. His accuracy was spotty — he completed only 6 of 12 passes — but he created more explosive plays, gained 117 yards through the air and threw one touchdown. Minshew will have every opportunity to steal the job from O’Connell before Week 1 of the regular season.
GO GET IT TRE 💨#LVvsMIN | 📺 FOX 5 pic.twitter.com/lYD6LXc8fk
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) August 10, 2024
Running back (4)
Starter: Zamir White
Backups: Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Dylan Laube
Cuts: Brittain Brown, Sincere McCormick
Analysis: Abdullah and Laube are in a position battle to determine who will be the third-down running back. While White and Mattison will get the majority of the carries, that’s still a pivotal role considering its pass-blocking and receiving duties. Neither Abdullah nor Laube made much of an impact against the Vikings, so this remains a toss-up.
Receiver (6)
Starters: Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker
Backups: Jalen Guyton, DJ Turner, Kristian Wilkerson
Cuts: Ramel Keyton, Alex Bachman, Terrell Bynum, Keelan Doss, Jeff Foreman, Tulu Griffin, Tyreik McAllister, Dax Milne
Analysis: Although the Raiders’ three starting receivers are set, there’s still the matter of determining who’ll fill out the rest of the room. Turner is a core special teams contributor and has seen his offensive role expand during camp. Wilkerson provides more size as an outside receiver and also contributes on special teams. Guyton missed most of OTAs and camp due to an undisclosed injury, but he has looked good since returning to action last week. There’s no guarantee Turner, Wilkerson and Guyton all make the roster, so their performance is something to monitor in the preseason. Turner looked the best against the Vikings and had a nice 20-yard touchdown catch.
15 ➡️ 19#LVvsMIN | 📺 FOX 5 pic.twitter.com/Wbk3MMEIKR
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) August 10, 2024
Tight end (3)
Starter: Brock Bowers
Backups: Michael Mayer, Harrison Bryant
Cuts: Zach Gentry, Cole Fotheringham, John Samuel Shenker
Analysis: It’s hard to justify using another roster spot here beyond Bowers, Mayer and Bryant. Perhaps Gentry or Fotheringham can show enough on special teams to push to make the team.
Offensive line (9)
Starters: LT Kolton Miller, LG Jackson Powers-Johnson, C Andre James, RG Dylan Parham, RT Thayer Munford
Backups: OT DJ Glaze, OT Andrus Peat, G Cody Whitehair, G Jordan Meredith
Cuts: C Ben Brown, OT Dalton Wagner, OT Jalen McKenzie, C Will Putnam, G Corey Luciano, G Clark Barrington, OT Andrew Coker
Analysis: Glaze has begun pushing Munford for the starting right tackle job in practice the last couple of weeks. Even if he doesn’t win the battle, he should be able to fill a useful role as the swing tackle. Peat provides valuable depth as a backup left tackle and left guard, while Whitehair does the same as a backup guard and center.
Silver and Black everywhere 🏴☠️#LVvsMIN | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/k3DfKETh9T
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) August 10, 2024
Defensive end (4)
Starters: Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce
Backups: Tyree Wilson, Janarius Robinson
Cuts: Charles Snowden, Elerson Smith, TJ Franklin, Ron Stone Jr., David Agoha
Analysis: As good as the Raiders feel about their starting duo of Crosby and Koonce, the depth here is questionable. Wilson has received a lot of praise from teammates and coaches alike for his growth, but he has had a sluggish camp. Robinson has a lot of physical talent at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, but he has yet to translate that into consistent results. The Raiders need at least one of them to step up for depth purposes. They were both quiet against the Vikings.
Defensive tackle (5)
Starters: Christian Wilkins, John Jenkins
Backups: Adam Butler, Byron Young, Nesta Jade Silvera
Cuts: Matthew Butler, Marquan McCall, Noah Shannon
Analysis: Wilkins, Jenkins and Butler will eat up most of the snaps here, but there’s still room for some younger players to fill out the rotation. Young has matured after a rough rookie season and provides upside as a pass rusher and run stopper. Silvera is more of an old-school nose tackle and provides some insurance for Jenkins. The run defense was exploited against the Vikings, so there’s plenty of room for the defensive tackles to improve in that area.
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Linebacker (5)
Starters: Robert Spillane, Divine Deablo
Backups: Luke Masterson, Tommy Eichenberg, Amari Burney
Cuts: Kana’i Muaga, Amari Gainer
Analysis: The Raiders operate out of a nickel base on defense, but there should be a decent number of reps for Masterson as the backup Will linebacker and Eichenberg as the backup Mike. Burney is strictly a special teams contributor at this point, but he made a few tackles against the Vikings and looked like he belonged.
Cornerback (6)
Starters: Jack Jones, Jakorian Bennett, Nate Hobbs
Backups: Decamerion Richardson, Brandon Facyson, M.J. Devonshire
Cuts: Sam Webb, Cornell Armstrong, Woo Governor, Rayshad Williams, Ja’Quan Sheppard
Analysis: Richardson has come along more quickly than expected, but it’s unlikely he’ll earn a starting role this season. Facyson has settled into a role as a veteran backup. Devonshire is Hobbs’ backup at nickelback but he can also play outside. He gave up a 45-yard touchdown catch and run in the third quarter against the Vikings and needs to clean up the negative plays to stick on the roster. If he can’t, this may be a position where the Raiders need to explore in free agency.
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Safety (5)
Starters: Marcus Epps, Tre’von Moehrig
Backups: Isaiah Pola-Mao, Chris Smith II, Trey Taylor
Cuts: Jaydon Grant, Phalen Sanford
Analysis: Pola-Mao has had a sensational camp and has locked up a role as the third safety in the rotation. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has used three-safety formations often in the past, so Pola-Mao will play plenty. Smith and Taylor need to stand out on special teams to justify their roster spots. Smith, in particular, struggled to stay on top of the Vikings’ receivers.
Special teams (3)
Kicker: Daniel Carlson
Punter: AJ Cole
Long snapper: Jacob Bobenmoyer
Kick returner: Laube
Punt returner: Tucker
Analysis: Laube was an excellent return man in college and should provide more explosiveness as a kick returner than Abdullah, who’s 31. Tucker wasn’t a return man last year, but he’s taken punt returner snaps in training camp and has the speed, elusiveness and physicality to be effective. He had a 23-yard punt return against the Vikings.
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(Photo of DJ Turner: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)
