The Las Vegas Raiders officially have their initial 53-man roster, and it’s much better than the one they had this time last year.

Raiders’ way-too-early post-draft 53-man roster projection

Quarterback (3)

Starter: Kirk Cousins
Backups: Fernando Mendoza, Aidan O’Connell
OUT: Jacob Clark

Is there much to say here? I think Cousins gets the Week 1 start, but Mendoza will be the guy by the end of the year. They can’t let O’Connell go, because then they won’t be able to get anything for him via trade. If they let him walk, he would be one of the very first players signed when waivers hit.

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Running Back (3)

Starter: Ashton Jeanty
Backups: Mike Washington Jr.*, Dylan Laube
OUT: Dare Ogunbowale, Roman Hemby

The Raiders found something with Mike Washington and Jeanty. Ogunbowale was just signed to be that veteran, third-down pass-catching back. But Laube will make the roster for the third straight year, and his big game in Houston helped that. This is now a room that has little to no experience.

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Wide Receivers (6)

Starters: Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech
Backups: Dont’e Thornton Jr., Malik Benson*, Dareke Young
OUT: Shedrick Jackson, Phillip Dorsett, Deven Thompkins, Chase Roberts, EJ Williams, Brandon Johnson.

Malik Benson has been the story of camp. He’s the sixth-round rookie that is undoubtedly making the roster now. He’s been one of the best players on offense at camp, making big play after big play. And he can play special teams. Now, the decision is who gets that last spot? Young was on the Seahawks roster last year, so I could see him making it.

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Tight End (4)

Starter: Brock Bowers
Backups: Michael Mayer, Connor Heyward (FB), Ian Thomas
OUT: Albert Okwuegbunam Jr., Chris Myarick
IR: Carter Runyon

This one is pretty standard and doesn’t need much explanation. It’s the same tight end room as last season, just subtracting Ian Thomas. Runyon showed some good things when he did play, and he seems to be a decent run blocker. However, I think they want Heyward in there at FB.

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Offensive Line (9)

Starters: Kolton Miller (LT), Spencer Burford (OG), Jackson Powers-Johnson (OG), Tyler Linderbaum (C), DJ Glaze (RT)
Backups: Charles Grant, Caleb Rogers, Trey Zuhn*, Antonio Mafi
OUT: Isaiah Jatta, Niklas Henning, Braeden Daniels, Kamar Missouri, Will Putnam, Dalton Wagner, Jordan Meredith (TRADED)

It’s pretty obvious that Burford is the starter on the left side. It’s not been a battle all camp like we thought it would be on the left side. However, the right guard spot has been a battle, and there’s no clear winner. However, I think Rogers is the backup, and if JPJ struggles during the season, Rogers takes his spot.

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Defensive Line (6)

Starters: Adam Butler (DT), Tonka Hemingway (DE), Jonah Laulu (DT)
Backups: JJ Pegues, Thomas Booker, Foly Fatukasi
OUT: Brandon Cleveland, Treven Ma’ae, Gary Smith

The Raiders recently signed Fatukasi to help beef up the interior. They didn’t have a true nose tackle on the roster, like at all. Now they do, so in that sense, that was a huge move. It’s hard to see them not carry six DTs going into the season. And we have already seen a decent return on Fatukasi, who played well vs. Houston.

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Edge Rushers (4)

Starters: Kwity Paye, Maxx Crosby
Backups: Malcolm Koonce, Patrick Johnson
OUT: Jahfari Harvey, Cian Slone**
IR: Keyron Crawford*

The Raiders are moving to a 3-4 system, which means they will have outside linebackers. Crosby and Koonce fit this mold. Paye, the new edge rusher, will likely be in that role as well, although he does seem a bit bigger and heavier on his feet than the other two. However, them paying him as much as they did vs Koonce tells us he will play more than Koonce.

Crawford is placed on IR, and Slone did not make it. However, Johnson’s big-time preseason was enough to land him a spot.

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Linebacker (4)

Starters: Quay Walker (WILL), Nakobe Dean (MIKE)
Backups: Tommy Eichenberg, Cody Lindenberg
OUT: Xavian Sorrey, Cameron McGrone, Buddy Johnson, Segun Olubi

The Raiders made two free-agent signings in Walker and Dean, as the LB spot was maybe their biggest hole on defense. How the backups fill out will be interesting to see. The Bergs have had good moments so far, especially Lindenberg.

Cornerback (6)

Starters: Eric Stokes, Darien Porter, Taron Johnson (NB)
Backups: Decamerion Richardson, Jermod McCoy*, Hezekiah Masses*
OUT: Devyn Perkins, Caleb Offord, Greedy Vance

This is the position group I may have the toughest time with. In this one, I don’t know who the six are, if they keep six. Masses has proved he can be a starter as he battles Porter for those snaps. Richardson has been one of the standouts at camp. McCoy is a fourth-round pick who should have been a first-rounder. Vance had an outstanding game two weeks ago, and played well last year. So, this is very tough.

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Safety (5)

Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Treydan Stukes*
Backups: Isaiah Pola-Mao, Dalton Johnson*, Tristin McCollum,
OUT: Devin Lafayette

Stukes has finally been getting some reps with the starters lately, but it’s been at both nickel and safety. But these seem to be the four guys. The surprise here was McCollum making the roster.

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Special Team (3)

Starters: AJ Cole (P), Matt Gay (K), Alex Ward (LS)
OUT: Kansei Matsuzawa

This group has undergone its first changes in the last handful of years. Now, it’s Alex Ward after Jacob Bobenmoyer was the long snapper, with Matt Gay taking over for Daniel Carlson. Kansei Matsuzawa will not be the kicker.