Oakland Raiders 53-man roster prediction after Preseason Week 3
Special Teams (4 Player)
Specialists: Dwayne Harris (KR/PR), Daniel Carlson (K), A.J. Cole (P), Andrew Depaola (LS)
Like (Keith) Smith, Dwayne Harris has familiarity with Bisaccia, who’s calling the shots with the special teams unit. They spent two seasons (2013-14) together with the Cowboys.
Harris served as the primary playmaker at kick and punt returner last season. The Raiders re-signed him to a one-year deal, and he hasn’t suited up in the preseason. The eight-year veteran should retain his special teams responsibilities.
Carlson doesn’t have competition for his kicking job, but he earned that single lane to a roster spot in 2018, converting on 16-of-17 field-goal attempts and scoring on all 18 extra point opportunities with the Raiders.
A.J. Cole has already won the punting job. Oakland waived 2018 fifth-rounder Johnny Townsend after Week 1 of the preseason. He struggled through his rookie campaign, averaging 43.2 yards per punt, which ranked 31st in the league last year. The New York Giants signed him, but the Raiders seem content with the North Carolina State product.
Through three exhibition contests, Cole has averaged 44.3 yards per punt, pinning seven out of 15 kicks inside the 20-yard-line. He doesn’t have the most powerful leg, but the Raiders needed an immediate upgrade to help out the defense with field positioning.
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Andrew Depaola tore his ACL in Week 1 of the 2018 campaign, but he’s back with the starters and likely takes his job back from Trent Sieg. The Raiders signed him to a four-year, $4.27 million deal in March of 2018.