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

The Las Vegas Raiders roster is really starting to come into focus as they prepare for the third and final preseason game. Gardner Minshew has been named the team's starting quarterback and other players have stepped up to claim roles on the team as well.

That still isn't going to make Tom Telesco's job easy at the conclusion of this week. That's when the Raiders will have to start doing the hard work of trimming the roster down from 90 players to 53 on the Week 1 active roster.

The Raiders will undoubtedly use the entire body of work from OTAs, mandatory minicamp and trainging camp to make those decisions. However, the actual preseason games are bound to carry some weight as well.

That makes the preseason finale against the 49ers on Friday a crucial last plea to be on the roster for a handful of Raiders on the bubble.

WR Kristian Wilkerson

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Kristian Wilkerson

Kristian Wilkerson's chances of making the roster will be heavily impacted by how many receivers the Raiders choose to keep. Teams generally hold on to five or six receivers. Last season, that number was six.

This season, it could be less. For one, the Raiders will have some more difficult decisions to make on the offensive line. They only kept eight last season. With a few younger players who could develop into role players up front, the Raiders might be inclined to keep more this time around.

Those extra roster spots have to come from somewhere and it might just be the receiver room. Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker are the obvious locks. Jalen Guyton is a known commodity to Telesco after five seasons with the Chargers.

DJ Turner has the advantage of being a proven special-teamer. He played 173 special teams snaps last season.

Wilkerson didn't play any.

At the same time, Wilkerson has made some plays throughout camp. That includes a touchdown grab in a practice that was highlighted by the Raiders social media team.

If he can make a few of those plays against the 49ers it will be more difficult to choose an additional offensive linemen or running back over him.

G/T Andrus Peat

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Andrus Peat

Andrus Peat looked like a good depth signing back in May. He started 12 games for the Saints last season and has experience at both guard and tackle.

He's probably still going to make the roster, but the Raiders have other options who will put some pressure on the front office to reevaluate. Cutting him would save the organization $1.8 million in cap space.

Peat has had some rough reps in the preseason and it's become a little more clear why the Saints were willing to let him walk when he was an inexpensive depth piece.

DJ Glaze has emerged throughout camp and the preseason. Tashan Reed of The Athletic noted that Glaze has "begun to push" Thayer Munford for the right tackle job. Even if Glaze doesn't overtake Munford by the time the season starts, it's safe to say that he could be viewed as the team's swing tackle.

Peat could then lay claim to being the backup guard, but Cody Whitehair is probably a better option. That could pit Peat against the promise of a younger player like Dalton Wagner.

Peat has one more game-situation opportunity to prove that he's too good to let go.

DT Byron Young

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Byron Young

Draft status can only protect a player so long. That becomes especially true when the player wasn't drafted by the current general manager.

So while Byron Young has a level of protection as a 2022 third-round pick, the general manager that selected him is gone and there are some frustrations with Young's game that could be too hard to ignore.

As B/R's Matt Holder noted, Young plays with high pad level and doesn't move his feet well enough to defeat reach blocks. Those aren't just little technique things to be cleaned up. They are major problems.

Young is going to get a good look against some Niners offensive linemen who will also be fighting to make the roster on Friday. If he puts more of this on film, his spot could be in danger.

Christian Wilkins, John Jenkins, Adam Butler and Nesta Jade Silvera all have roles on paper. Throw in the fact that Tyree Wilson could kick inside sometimes and Young is going to have to fight to prove he has a role.