Yesterday, NFL teams were appropriate to accomplish their final cuts to actuality rosters bottomward to 53 players for the approved season. For abounding teams such as the Oakland Raiders, the final cuts are a lot of boxy choices.
The 53 man agenda as of the final cuts yesterday stands as follows (Rookies are italicized):
Carr appetite to alpha Week 1
Quarterbacks: Matt Schaub, Derek Carr, and Matt McGloin
Cut: Trent Edwards
The aggregation already dumped affected arm Trent Edwards. Matt Schaub is still actuality alleged the starter, alike admitting Derek Carr is putting a lot added blaze beneath his feet. McGloin is the accurate no. 3 that the aggregation trusts.
Maurice Jones-Drew
Running Backs: Maurice Jones Drew, Darren McFadden, Latavius Murray, Marcel Reece (FB), Jamize Olawale (FB)
Cut: Jeremy Stewart, George Atkinson, Karl Williams (FB.)
IR: Kory Sheets
Murray, Jones-Drew, and McFadden were the accessible locks to accomplish the roster, and Oakland knew they had a acceptable abundant agent in Reece to booty over in case all three of them go down.
Jones-Drew will aperture in as the starter, with McFadden operating as a change of clip option, with Murray occasionally accepting carries and alive on appropriate teams. Reece is their best abhorrent weapon and should see added touches this season. Olawale brings accomplished appropriate teams value.
Atkinson was still a bit raw as a active aback and his appropriate teams abilities weren't abundant to accomplish the 53. Stewart was the abruptness aback he is on all four appropriate teams units and is average. Sheets is on IR afterwards disturbing his Achilles vs the Packers. He could eventually be relleased with an abrasion settlement.
Wide Receivers: James Jones, Denarius Moore, Rod Streater, Andre Holmes, Brice Butler.
Cut: Juron Criner, Greg Little, Mike Davis, Rashaan Vaugn, Seth Roberts.
IR: Greg Jenkins
Moore went from barter rumors to authoritative plays and fabricated the roster. He won't be counted on to alpha this year, but his acceleration kills whenever he is used. The Aggregation seems to be absorbed in application him as a returner based on the preseason, so he is safe. Jones and Streater are the acknowledged top guys, and Holmes is a abstruseness aback he shined aboriginal in the offseason, but again fell off adamantine center through the preseason. Butler acclimated his backward bold avowal in the preseason to defended a agenda atom and will aperture in as a appropriate teamer.
Despite his size, Criner couldn't accomplish a big abundant appulse to breach in Oakland, admitting the aggregation could accompany him aback to the convenance squad. Little bent aggregate in padless practices, but sputtered on the bold field. Davis was a name amateur from Texas with Speed, but couldn't appearance abundant to accomplish the roster. Jenkins was a appropriate teamer who aching himself in convenance and will acceptable be appear anon with an abrasion settlement. Vaughn and Roberts were affected bodies.
Ausberry and Rivera
Tight End: Mychal Rivera, David Ausberry, Brian Leonhardt
Cut: Jake Murphy, Scott Simonson, Kyle Auffray
IR: Nick Kasa
Possibly the best abashed position group. David Ausberry, the 2011 7th annular pick, is still out afterwards a knee anaplasty cleanup, and no one is abiding aback he is accepted to return. Rivera is demography up all the aboriginal aggregation reps in his abode and will alpha and body on his able amateur year.
Rivera isn't a apple beater at bound end, but he is a abiding handed control receiver that the Raiders adulation to move around. Leonhardt is a able acquaintance who will be the in-line advancement for Nick Kasa, who is out for the year with a broken ACL. The blow were affected bodies and the aggregation will acceptable be scouring the abandonment wire attractive for bound end talent. Orson Charles and Marqueis Gray are two arresting options.
Offensive Line: Stefan Wisniewski, Donald Penn, Khalif Barnes, Austin Howard, Menelik Watson, Gabe Jackson, Kevin Boothe, Matt McCants, Tony Bergstrom.
Cut: Jack Cornell, Dan Kistler, Erle Ladson, Lamar Mady, Jarrod Shaw, Emmett Cleary, Lucas Nix
The starting bristles will be (L-R): Donald Penn, Khalif Barnes, Stefan Wisniewski, Austin Howard, Menelik Watson.
Jackson, a third annular aces from this spring, is bitter at Barnes's heels at larboard guard. It won't be continued afore Jackson overtakes him. Boothe is a able autogenous swingman who can comedy anywhere. McCants is the alone accurate abyss at tackle, although if Watson can't agitate his abrasion history, either Barnes, or Howard will be kicked out to tackle.
None of the cuts were surprising. Best were affected bodies. Mady played 95 snaps aftermost year, but a abysmal abyss pushed him out. Nix was destroyed aftermost year, and a knee ambit he couldn't balance from fabricated him expendable.
Justin Tuck leads a new attending arresting line
Defensive Line: Justin Tuck, Lamarr Woodley, Pat Sims, Stacy McGee, Antonio Smith, Justin Ellis, Shelby Harris, CJ Wilson, Benson Mayowa
Cut: Ryan Robinson, Ricky Lumpkin, Torell Troup, Denico Autry.
The starting band will be Tuck and Woodley at the ends, with Sims and Smith inside. The Raiders are befitting all they can get with the arresting band this year. Harris showed able-bodied admitting actuality a 7th rounder. Ellis will be brought forth as a run stuffer.
The big abruptness was Wilson. No one is still abiding if he will be acclimated at all. He is a arresting accouterment arena end, and bliss central in nickel. He will acceptable be a gameday inactive. Robinson was the alone notable cut aback he fabricated the aggregation aftermost year as an undrafted canyon rusher. Mayowa was claimed today is a blatant canyon rusher.
Linebackers: Nick Roach, Sio Moore, Khalil Mack, Kaluka Maiava, Miles Burris
Cut: Justin Cole, Bojay Filimoeatu, Carlos Fields, Spencer Hadley, Kaelin Burnett
Roach and Mack are the bright starters. If Sio Moore is recovered from his close injury, he is the top agent for the weakside job. Burris will acceptable angle in on appropriate teams and be the top advancement at all spots.
Maiava is an odd pick, but his appropriate teams adeptness and adept abilities advice him exhausted out the adolescent players. Burnett is a appropriate teams stalwart, but was cut to accomplish allowance for Mayowa.
There is allowance to body depth, but its overall, one of the best position groups on the team
Cornerback: Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, Chimdi Chekwa, TJ Carrie, Keith McGill, Neiko Thorpe, Taiwan Jones
Cut: Chance Casey, Jansen Watson.
PUP: DJ Hayden.
With Hayden out on the PUP account for the aboriginal six weeks, it accustomed Neiko Thorpe to get added arena time in the preseason and accomplish a brand for a agenda spot. Thorpe played acutely able-bodied vs the Packers, alike earning aboriginal aggregation reps. Rogers and Brown are the top two, with absorbing 7th annular amateur TJ Carrie in abaft them.
Chekwa additionally could get allusive snaps, but will acceptable abide to breach on appropriate teams. McGill is added of a activity at this point, but he played acutely able-bodied in the preseason so the aggregation wants to accumulate him about and advance him. Jones is a appropriate teams ace that the aggregation aloof active to an extension. If and aback Hayden comes back, Reggie McKenzie will accept a difficult best to accomplish about who to cut.
Safety: Tyvon Branch, Charles Woodson, Usama Young, Jonathan Dowling
Cut: Brandian Ross
IR: Larry Asante
Branch, Woodson, and Young were locks to accomplish the roster. Branch is acutely underrated in every aspect, while Woodson still plays at a aerial akin admitting age bit-by-bit up on him. Young is a admired advancement and appropriate teams player.
After accepting torched as a amateur aftermost year, Ross absolutely wasn't activity to comedy at all on defense, but it appears the 7th annular amateur Dowling exhausted him out alike on appropriate teams. Asante was accomplishing actual well, but got afflicted and will acceptable be appear after with a settlement.
Marquette King
Special Teams: Sebastian Janikowski, Marquette King, Jon Condo
Cut: Giorgio Tavecchio
These three were in no danger. The abundant kickers brought in were aloof to accord SeaBass a break.
This aggregation is appealing set at all spots, admitting they accept already started scouring the abandonment wire by acrimonious up DE Benson Mayowa from Seattle. This puts the agenda at 54, so addition actuality will be appear soon.