The Las Vegas Raiders are almost ready to wrap up training camp after the next two preseason games. But the Raiders look like they have a decent team put together. When you look at their projected 53-man roster, this team is undoubtedly better than last year’s.

So, let’s take a look at what the 53-man roster could look like.

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

Quarterback (3)

Starter: Kirk Cousins
Backups: Fernando Mendoza, Aiden 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.*, Dare Ogunbowale
OUT: Dylan Laube, Roman Hemby

The Raiders found something with Mike Washington and Jeanty. Ogunbowale was just signed to be that veteran, third-down pass-catching back.

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Wide Receivers (6)

Starters: Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech
Backups: Dont’e Thornton Jr., Malik Benson*, Noah Brown
OUT: Shedrick Jackson, Phillip Dorsett, Dareke Young, Devin 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, Noah Brown or Darek Young? Brown’s got legit production over the last few years. But I could still see Young getting it because of special teams and the Klint Kubiak connection.

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Tight End (4)

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

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 (8)

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

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.

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Edge Rushers (5)

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

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. I originally had four spots in this room before the draft. I had to add one because Crawford will find a way to see the field. Cian Slone, the UDFA, may very well have a roster spot locked up.

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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

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 (7)

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

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. They may have to keep seven. But here’s where I’m at. Either Decamerion Richardson, Greedy Vance, and rookies Jermod McCoy and Hezekiah Masses–one of those is not making the 53-man. That’s if they only keep six, which most teams do. 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 last week. So, this is very tough.

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Safety (4)

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

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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, as things are currently looking, will not be the kicker.