Oakland Raiders: Final predictions for most surprising 2018 roster cuts

DE Mario Edwards Jr.

This one would be quite the shocker, wouldn’t it? Prior to this year, Mario Edwards Jr. was seen as one of the most promising pieces of the Raiders’ defensive line. And then this offseason happened.

Now, the Oakland defensive line seems loaded with high-upside options. That could put the Raiders coaching staff in a rather precarious situation when it comes time to decide who makes the final roster. This time around, I think they need to go with the best fits while maximizing upside instead of settling for the incumbent.

That means Edwards should get the ax.

Coming out of Florida State, Edwards was always a better fit as a 3-4 defensive end. The Raiders have spent the last few years trying to force a square peg into a round hole, and the results have been mixed. With so many other capable options (P.J. Hall, Maurice Hurst, Fadol Brown, Eddie Vanderdoes) on the roster, it’s time to end this wayward experiment.

The Raiders may even be able to find a trade partner for Edwards, who has flashed starter potential at times. However, with his knack for getting hurt and Oakland’s plethora of intriguing replacements, it just makes sense to pull the plug.