Predicting Raiders 53-man roster, practice squad for 2018

We’re midway through the preseason and approximately two weeks from when the Raiders and every other NFL team must trim their roster from 90 players down to 53 on the active roster and as many as 10 on the practice squad.

Each team will be cutting 37 players from the roster. That’s a lot of decisions to make. Many of which won’t be easy. It certainly wasn’t easy to predict them.

With some 1184 players who will not be on their team’s roster come the cutdown day, the Raiders will be scanning the waiver wire to make more moves. They will also likely be placing a few players on injured reserve. And if they hope to designate any of them for return, they must be placed on IR after the cutdown day, at which point they could then bring back any players they cut who cleared waivers should they choose to do so.

Here is how I see the 53-man roster shaking out:

Quarterbacks

In: Derek Carr, EJ Manuel, Connor Cook

Out: N/A

Running backs

In: Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin, Jalen Richard, Keith Smith (FB)

Out: Chris Warren III, DeAndre Washington, James Butler, Ryan Yurachek

Wide receivers

In: Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson, Martavis Bryant, Ryan Switzer, Dwayne Harris, Marcell Ateman

Out: Seth Roberts (trade?), Johnny Holton, Griff Whalen, Keon Hatcher, Isaac Whitney, Saeed Blacknall

Tight ends

In: Lee Smith, Jared Cook, Derek Carrier

Out: Paul Butler, Pharaoh Brown, Marcus Baugh

Offensive linemen

In: Donald Penn, Kelechi Osemele, Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson, Kolton Miller, Jon Feliciano, David Sharpe, Brandon Parker, Jordan Simmons

Out: Breno Giacomini (IR), Jylan Ware, Ian Silberman, Denver Kirkland, Oday Aboushi, James Stone, Cameron Hunt

Defensive linemen

In: Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin, Mario Edwards Jr, Justin Ellis, Maurice Hurst, PJ Hall, Arden Key, Tank Carradine, Shilique Calhoun

Out: Eddie Vanderdoes (IR), Treyvon Hester, Fadol Brown, Frostee Rucker, Gabe Wright, Shakir Soto

Linebackers

In: Tahir Whitehead, Derrick Johnson, Emmanuel Lamur, Marquel Lee, Nicholas Morrow, Kyle Wilber

Out: James Cowser, Azeem Victor, Jason Cabinda

Cornerbacks

In: Gareon Conley, Rashaan Melvin, Nick Nelson, Daryl Worley, Antonio Hamilton

Out: Leon Hall, Shareece Wright, Dexter McDonald, Raysean Pringle, Antwuan Davis

Safeties

In: Reggie Nelson, Karl Joseph, Marcus Gilchrist, Erik Harris, Shalom Luani

Out: Obi Melifonwu (IR), Quincy Mauger, Dallin Leavitt,

Special teamers

In: Eddy Pineiro, Johnny Townsend, Andrew DaPaolo

Out: Mike Nugent

Practice squad

RB Chris Warren III

WR Johnny Holton

TE Paul Butler

OL Ian Silberman

OL Denver Kirkland

DE Fadol Brown

DT Treyvon Hester

LB James Cowser

LB Azeem Victor

S Dallin Leavitt