HENDERSON, NV - The Raiders set their initial 53 with a veteran spine and a youth infusion at premium spots, headlined by additions of Amari Cooper and Kenny Pickett and a deep, versatile defensive front. Roster gymnastics continued after cutdown as Las Vegas churned the back end to balance special teams and depth at tackle and linebacker.
The biggest decisions
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Three-QB room (Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett, Aidan O'Connell) gives flexibility as Pickett acclimates; O'Connell later went to injured reserve with Brennan Jackson claimed at OLB and Stone Forsythe added at tackle.
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First-round TE Brock Bowers pairs with Michael Mayer to headline 12-personnel looks.
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Defensive line goes 10 deep, allowing waves around Maxx Crosby and Tyree Wilson.
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Secondary leans on new outside corners (Eric Stokes, Decamerion Richardson) with Jeremy Chinn as a movable safety/linebacker piece.
Who was cut
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Waived (14): Gottlieb Ayedze (T), Michael Barrett (LB), Tank Booker (DT), Andre Carter II (DE), Hudson Clark (S), Parker Clements (T), Keondre Coburn (DT), Amari Gainer (LB), Jarrod Hufford (C), John Humphrey (CB), Qadir Ismail (TE), Ketron Jackson Jr. (WR), Jah Joyner (DE), Sam Webb (CB).
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Released (4): Marquez Callaway (WR), Phillip Dorsett II (WR), Collin Johnson (WR), Jaylon Smith (LB).
Practice squad signings
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Alex Bachman (WR), Chris Collier (RB), Terrell Edmunds (S), Jahfari Harvey (DE), Shedrick Jackson (WR), Matt Jones (LB), Treven Ma'ae (DT), Atonio Mafi (G), Cam Miller (QB), Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. (TE), Carter Runyon (TE), Justin Shorter (WR), Laki Tasi (OL), Trey Taylor (S), Greedy Vance (CB), Dalton Wagner (T), JT Woods (S).
Initial 53 by position
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QB (3): Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett, Aidan O'Connell
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RB (4): Raheem Mostert, Zamir White, Ashton Jeanty, Dylan Laube
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WR (5): Amari Cooper, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Dont'e Thornton Jr., Jack Bech
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TE (3): Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas
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OL (10): Kolton Miller, Thayer Munford Jr., DJ Glaze, Charles Grant, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Will Putnam, Alex Cappa, Dylan Parham, Jordan Meredith, Caleb Rogers
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DL/EDGE (10): Maxx Crosby, Tyree Wilson, Malcolm Koonce, Charles Snowden, Thomas Booker IV, Adam Butler, Leki Fotu, Tonka Hemingway, Jonah Laulu, JJ Pegues
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LB (6): Jamal Adams, Tommy Eichenberg, Cody Lindenberg, Germaine Pratt, Elandon Roberts, Devin White
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CB (5): Eric Stokes, Decamerion Richardson, Darnay Holmes, Kyu Blu Kelly, Darien Porter
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S (4): Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Chris Smith II, (initially) Thomas Harper*
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Specialists (3): Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole (P), Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
* Harper was subsequently waived; S Tristin McCollum was claimed.
What it means
The Raiders churned the bottom third of the roster, then retained many familiar camp names on the PS to preserve playbook knowledge and special-teams utility heading into Week 1.
