The Las Vegas Raiders have finalized their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season after waiving twenty-six players and releasing six veterans.

The Raiders will quickly move toward forming their practice squad and continuing tinkering with their active roster heading into their Week 1 showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers, but for now, here are a few observations from the initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season.

Who's under center?

After a competitive quarterback battle between Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O'Connell, they're the sole two quarterbacks to make the initial 53-man roster.

General Manager Tom Telesco said Tuesday afternoon that his plan is to keep two quarterbacks on the active roster and add one to the practice squad. UDFA Carter Bradley and veteran Nathan Peterman are both prime candidates to return on the practice squad after throwing a touchdown apiece in the preseason.

Youth movement

The entirety of the Raiders' 2024 draft class made the initial roster: Brock Bowers, Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze, Decamerion Richardson, Tommy Eichenberg, Dylan Laube, Trey Taylor and M.J. Devonshire.

Taylor, the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award recipient, was injured in the later part of training camp and placed on reserve/injured list. This is the second straight season every Raiders draft pick made the initial roster.

Bowers, Glaze and Richardson were a few of the top performing rookies throughout camp and the preseason, and will be pushing for opportunities to get on the field once the regular season begins.

Earned, not given

Amari Gainer and Ramel Keyton are the two rookie UDFAs to make the team.

Gainer was one of the more high-profile collegiate players signed after the draft, with 237 career tackles at Florida State and North Carolina. He made quite the impression in the preseason, leading the team in total tackles (17) and tackles for loss (two) along with two pass deflections.

"He stuck in there to the very end and called the defense tonight," Antonio Pierce said about Gainer postgame last Friday. "First time he's done that, as well."

Keyton, who caught 11 touchdowns in his last two seasons at Tennessee, worked his way into second-team reps throughout training camp. His best showing was in the preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers, leading the team in receptions (four) and receiving yards (76), including picking up 52 yards on the final drive of the game to get the team into scoring range.

This is the first time a rookie UDFA has made the 53-man roster since 2022.

"Quiet" special teams ace

Tyreik McAllister "moved the needle" last Friday, according to Pierce. Now, the receiver has made the initial 53-man roster for the first time in his career.

McAllister was formerly on the Denver Broncos practice squad, running a 4.4 40-yard dash at his Pro Day at University of Charleston. After a two year stint with the Broncos, he spent a season in the Canadian Football League (CFL), leading the league in all-purpose yards and averaging 25.3 yards per kick return.

His versatility has been on full display in the preseason as he averaged a whooping 29 yards per kick return and 37.3 yards per punt return, including a 81-yard punt return touchdown against the 49ers. He also compiled 56 receiving yards and a touchdown grab in the preseason finale.

"I thought he did a hell of a job in training camp, just quietly," Pierce said of McAllister. "If you really think about that Minnesota game, he popped one there. We've been seeing it in practice, but today he took it to another level, took one to the crib, and hell of a catch and adjustment there on a reception."

Someone to keep on your radar

While Janarius Robinson was a fourth-round draft pick in 2021, this is the first time in his career he's made a team's initial 53-man roster.

Injuries have held the edge rusher back in his previous stints with the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. However, he's seemed to find a home in Las Vegas. After signing to the Raiders' practice squad last season, he was elevated to the active roster in Week 12's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He appeared in six games with two starts last season, picking up eight total tackles and a sack.

Robinson built upon the momentum from 2023 in training camp, with the expectation of being a part of the pass rushing rotation off the edge with Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce and Tyree Wilson. He had four tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass deflection in the 2024 preseason.