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3 Raiders players who won’t be on the roster after training camp

By Cody Williams

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 18: Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during the first half against the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 18: Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during the first half against the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images) /
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Raiders, Bilal Nichols
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 27: Bilal Nichols #91 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during the first half of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on November 27, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images) /

These Raiders players aren’t in a good position to still be on the roster at the end of training camp for Las Vegas in the 2023 season. 

There aren’t too many ways to sugarcoat the state of the Las Vegas Raiders. Moving on from Derek Carr led to the franchise reuniting Jimmy Garoppolo with head coach Josh McDaniels this offseason, a transition at quarterback that most view as a downgrade for the offense.

Meanwhile, the offensive line has a plethora of questions, but the number of questions there pales in comparisons to the ones surrounding the defense. Looking at the depth chart and with apologies to a bonafide star in Maxx Crosby, there’s a good chance that the Raiders are going to trot out one of the three worst defenses in the NFL for the 2023 season.

All this points to the Raiders being in the thick of a transition as an organization. And with that, some pretty eye-popping changes could still be coming this year. Taking that into account, these three players have an extremely good chance of not being on the roster anymore once training camp concludes.

Note: All cap figures are via Over the Cap. 

Raiders who won’t be on roster after training camp No. 3: Bilal Nichols, DT

Last offseason, when the Raiders clearly had a different mentality and approach to building the roster, one of the more under-the-radar additions that the club made was to sign former Bears defensive tackle Bilal Nichols. That, however, worked out pretty disastrously.

Nichols graded out as only the 84th-best interior defensive lineman in the 2022 season according to PFF (subscription required). He was mediocre as a pass-rusher, but showed up as a complete liability against the run on more than one occasion.

To be sure, Las Vegas isn’t exactly swimming with great options at defensive tackle. Jerry Tillery, who the club picked up off waivers in November 2022, was even worse than Nichols. Having said that, the Raiders still re-signed the former Charger this offseason. More importantly, they would take on just $3.475 million in dead cap with no savings if they cut him.

With Nichols, however, the Raiders could cut him and save $3.125 million on the cap, even if it comes with a dead cap number slightly higher than that.

In making that move, though, the defense and coaching staff could get a better look at players like 2023 third-rounder Byron Young, 2022 fourth-rounder Neil Farrell Jr. and 2023 seventh-rounder Nesta Jade Silvera, among others.

This defense is going to have a rough go of it in the 2023 season regardless of who’s at defensive tackle, but it would make far more sense for this organization to move on from Nichols and give potential future pieces a chance to garner experience with playing time.

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