Las Vegas Raiders’ initial 53-man roster following roster cuts: Pete Carroll and John Spytek’s first of hopefully many
The Las Vegas Raiders, along with the rest of the league, have made their roster cuts and now have their initial 53-man roster.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ initial 53-man roster is here, and man, does this roster look very different from it did a year ago. The new regime believes they have really turned this thing around, and Pete Carroll is ready to win now.
But now that the initial roster is in place, which likely won’t be the same roster they start Week 1 with, is this a roster that can win now? Only time will tell.
With all that being said, let’s dive into what this new regime’s roster looks like as we head into the 2025 season.
Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2025 draft picks, and players with double asterisks (**) are 2025 undrafted free agents.
Raiders’ initial 53-man roster
Quarterback (3)
IN: Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett, Aidan O’Connell
OUT: Cam Miller
The skinny: Aidan O’Connell fractured his wrist in the Raiders’ last preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals and will soon be on IR, as he will likely miss 6-8 weeks. It’s also very possible that O’Connell has played his last snaps with the Raiders. But, they traded with the Cleveland Browns to get Kenny Pickett as their backup, and are now ready at the position. Cam Miller, the sixth-round rookie, didn’t make the 53-man roster despite having a pretty decent preseason. They will try and put him on the practice squad if possible.
Runningback (4)
IN: Ashton Jeanty*, Zamir White, Raheem Mostert, Dylan Laube
OUT: Sincere McCormick, Chris Collier
The skinny: Laube getting the nod to be on the 53-man roster is a bit of a surprise. But it’s likely because of how good he was on special teams this preseason. However, you’d think McCormick would have been given the spot because of the few great games he had last season. But this is a new regime that doesn’t care about last season.
Wide Receivers (5)
IN: Jakobi Meyers, Dont’e Thornton Jr.*, Jack Bech*, Tre Tucker, Amari Cooper
OUT: Tommy Mellott*, Marqueze Callaway, Shedrick Jackson, Ketron Jackson Jr., Phillip Dorsett, Alex Bachman, Colin Johnson
The skinny: The Raiders just added Amari Cooper to cap off what is a much-improved WR room than the one they had last year. The surprise here is that the Raiders are only keeping five WRs on the 53-man roster. Other than that, the five that everyone knew would make the roster made the roster.
Tight Ends (3)
IN: Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas
OUT: Qadir Ismail, Carter Runyon**, Albert Okwuegbunam
The skinny: The big three at the position are the three that we all knew would make it. Like the WR position, the surprise here is only having three TEs, especially since they only have five WRs. But, they kept the best three, for sure.
Offensive line (10)
IN: Kolton Miller, Dylan Parham, Jordan Meredith, Jackson Powers-Johnson, D.J. Glaze, Alex Cappa, Thayer Munford, Caleb Rogers*, Charles Grant*, Will Putnam
OUT: Dalton Wagner, Atonio Mafi, Parker Clements**, Gottlieb Ayedze
The skinny: The nine guys that I listed first are the nine that I was 100% certain would make the team. I thought they would stay with just nine OLs, but the surprise is that Will Putnam made the 53-man roster. He had a great camp and deserves it.
Defensive line (10)
IN: Maxx Crosby, Jonah Laulu, Adam Butler, Malcolm Koonce, Charles Snowden, Tyree Wilson, Thomas Booker, J.J. Pegues*, Tonka Hemingway*, Leki Fotu
OUT: Andre Carter, Jan Joyner**, Jahfari Harvey, Keondre Coburn, Ovie Oghoufo, Treven Mae’ae**, Tank Booker**
The skinny: The only surprise here is that Leki Fotu made the 53-man roster. That’s huge for him, and he has shown some great potential, too. However, you have to think that some of these guys not making the 53-man roster will certainly be back on the practice squad.
Linebacker (6)
IN: Elandon Roberts, Devin White, Germaine Pratt, Jamal Adams, Tommy Eichenberg, Cody Lindenberg*
OUT: Jaylon Smith, Matt Jones**, Amari Gainer, Michael Barrett
The skinny: Las Vegas opted to keep six linebackers, while letting go of UDFA steal last season in Amari Gainer. Jaylon Smith, the veteran free agent signing, was nowhere near making this roster if the seventh-round rookie and the converted safety, in former Seattle Seahawks star Jamal Adams, made it.
Safety (4)
IN: Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Thomas Harper, Chris Smith
OUT: Trey Taylor, Terrell Edmunds, Hudson Clark**
The skinny: Thomas Harper and Chris Smith making it are the two surprises. One was signed this offseason in Harper, and one was drafted a few years ago and has finally made the 53-man roster after being on the practice squad for a while.
Cornerback (5)
IN: Darien Porter*, Darnay Holmes, Eric Stokes, Decameron Richardson, Kyu Blu Kelley
OUT: JT Woods, Sam Webb, John Humphrey**, Greedy Vance**
The skinny: I thought Greedy Vance would make the roster. The former USC standout who went undrafted had a really good preseason, and to me, he was almost an obvious pick. But the Raiders may try to get him on the practice squad, and for now, go with one less spot.
Special Teams (3)
Kicker: Daniel Carlson
Punter: AJ Cole
Long Snapper: Jacob Bobenmeyer
