The 53-man roster has now taken shape for the Las Vegas Raiders, who were the two biggest surprises that made it?
The preseason is over and Week 1 is getting closer. The Raiders had to trim down their roster, which included some tough decision-making. Each offseason there are cuts that catch fans and writers off guard. However, there are always a few surprises that make the final 53. That being said, here are two of those said surprises that made the cut for the Silver and Black.
Safety, Roderic Teamer
You can say that Teamer beat out two other players to get here. Karl Joseph was already a surprise cut after expecting to provide solid depth. Dallin Leavitt has been with the Raiders since 2017 as a special teams player. In the aftermath, however, it makes sense why Teamer earned his spot. While Joseph was a decent player, he was barely able to stay on the field due to nagging injuries and his availability was likely the deciding factor. Leavitt’s play was poor, as he made several consequential miscues during the preseason. Lastly, Teamer has experience in Gus Bradley’s system.
Teamer was with the Chargers in 2019 and played seven games (six starts). In that span, he finished with 40 tackles, an interception, and a sack. The young safety won’t get a lot of playing time but he’ll provide beneficial depth for the Raiders.
Tight End, Nick Bowers
Almost every roster prediction had Derek Carrier making the team as the third-string tight end. Nevertheless, following Carrier’s release, Bowers has his chance to prove why he took his roster spot. Bowers played in all three preseason games. In that time, he caught five receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown. It wouldn’t be a shock if Carrier returned soon, making it a four-man tight ends’ room. Nonetheless, Bowers making the team must mean that he has something that the coaching staff likes.
This will be Bowers’s first time on an NFL roster after spending all of 2020 as a UDFA on the Raiders’ practice squad. His role will certainly be minimal with blocking on run plays and some special teams.
While neither of the players mentioned will get many opportunities, they can prove to be efficient down the road. It’s up to what they do from here to show why they deserve to be in the NFL.
*Top Photo: L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal