Going into training camp, Raheem Mostert seemed like one of the safer bets to make the Raiders’ roster, but in the days leading up to the final preseason game, at least one insider covering the team thinks Mostert might be one of the Raiders’ surprise cuts next week.
Las Vegas Review-Journal insider Vinny Bonsignore left Mostert off his most recent 53-man roster projection and he explained his rationale this week.
“Zamir White kind of burst through early in training camp, and it’s been nothing but steps in the right direction for him. I think he’s really impressed a lot of people around here, including offensive coordinator Chip Kelly,” Bonsignore said on the Vegas Nation First and 10 podcast.
“I would have to say that as of right now, the combination of [Zamir] doing his thing… and also the lack of Raheem sometimes at practices has really maybe solidified Zamir as that number two running back.”
The player that could surpass Mostert on the depth chart, according to Bonsignore, is second-year player Dylan Laube.
“If you move Raheem down to the third running back role, I think that puts his roster spot in a little bit of peril, because there’s guys behind him, and Sincere McCormack and Dylan Laube, Dylan in particular, can play special teams,” Bonsignore continued.
“I just keep seeing Dylan Lauby lining up with every first team special teams. Every day, when they go to special teams, he’s on a first team unit, punt return, punt coverage, kickoff return, kick coverage. He’s always out there. So that, I think, is really starting to convince me that he might have a spot on this 53-man roster.”
Without question, Mostert brings experience to the Raiders’ running back room, but at 33 years-old, some might say he brings a little too much experience.
In March, Mostert signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the Raiders and only $175,000 of that amount is guaranteed, according to Spotrac.
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Sincere McCormick looked really good last year and now looks like a cut candidate. I can’t believe Mostert looks that much better being almost a decade older. Someone will pick McCormick up. Seems like him and Bennett not getting a fair shake.