Raiders Who Need Strong Preseason Finish to Make 53-Man Roster

The Las Vegas Raiders have had nearly a month worth of training camp practices and two preseason games to figure out who will make their 53-man roster.

The opportunities for those who find themselves on the roster bubble to make a statement are dwindling.

Adding to that uncertainty is the presence of a new front office led by general manager Dave Ziegler. That means there could be some surprising moves as the team cuts its roster from 80 to 53 by August 30.

One of the biggest chances left on the slate is the final preseason game against the New England Patriots. It will offer a final time to make an impression while going against other players who are trying to make the roster in Boston.

Here's a look at three players who are going to need strong performances to secure a roster spot.

Edge Tashawn Bower

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tashawn Bower (96) runs off of the line of scrimmage during an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)

Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby have the potential to be one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL. Beyond that, it's hard to establish a hierarchy of quarterback-hunters on the outside.

The Raiders lost Kyler Fackrell for the season at the beginning of training camp. Clelin Ferrell has largely been a bust but the guaranteed money in his contract makes him a near-lock to make the roster.

The team signed Jordan Jenkins to help fill the gap, but he went on injured reserve with a knee issue less than a week after signing with the team.

It's still not a ringing endorsement of the current talent on the roster on the edge that they brought in an outside free agent. Still, players like Malcolm Koonce and Tashawn Bower have another chance to prove they belong on the field and on the roster.

Bower made a statement in the team's third preseason game. He was all over the field against the Miami Dolphins on Saturday with five tackles (two for a loss) and a sack.

If the 27-year-old has another game like that, he should be guaranteed to make the roster and could even push for playing time.

S Isaiah Pola-Mao

Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 04: Isaiah Pola-Mao #40 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up prior to the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 04, 2022 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

Isaiah Pola-Mao is an intriguing prospect for a variety of reasons. The nephew of Steelers great Troy Polamalu brings a big frame (6'4", 211 pounds) and a great athletic profile to the table.

The 23-year-old safety also faces the traditionally tough road to make the roster as an undrafted free agent.

However, Levi Edwards of the team's website noted he has been a standout in training camp.

Even with those impressive performances, Pola-Mao is going to have to look pretty good to crack the roster. Trevon Moehrig will start at one spot while Duron Harmon and Johnathan Abram are fighting for the other berth in two-safety looks.

That leaves the USC product battling with the likes of Roderic Teamer, a player who has made eight starts and been a special teams contributor across two seasons in the league.

If Pola-Mao is to overcome the odds, he needs to stand out in the final preseason game and prove he has more upside than Teamer gives the Raiders.

DT Kendal Vickers

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Kendal Vickers (93) during an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

In 2021, the New York Giants only kept five interior defensive linemen on their initial Week 1 roster. That's an important number because defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is now in Las Vegas with the same role.

If the Raiders wind up cutting down their interior defenders to the same number, there are going to be significant cuts from the position group.

Vernon Butler was already a victim of the team's first roster cutdown. Now it has to choose between Kyle Peko, Andrew Billings, Matthew Butler, Neil Farrell Jr., Tyler Lancaster, Kendal Vickers and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa.

Vickers could be the one who is most on the bubble. Peko, Billings and Lancaster are all free agents this front office brought in. They drafted Butler and Farrell. Tagovailoa-Amosa has a long road ahead of him as an undrafted free agent.

Vickers is one of the few who is a remaining player from the previous regime. He did notch a sack in the Hall of Fame Game and some impact plays against the Patriots to show he should be one of the five to stay.