Atonio

Mafi

Miller was the Raiders’ sixth-round pick, and it seems very likely that the signal-caller will be back with Las Vegas on their practice squad. Tommy Mellott — a former college quarterback who is making the move to wide receiver — was also part of the cuts for the Raiders. The full list of players who won’t make the 53-man roster: aived DT Zach Carter, RB Chris Collier, DE Jahfari Harvey, WR Shedrick Jackson, LB Matt Jones, DT Treven Ma’ae, G Atonio Mafi, RB Sincere McCormick, DE Ovie Oghoufo, TE Carter Runyon, WR Justin Shorter, OL Laki Tasi, S Trey Taylor, CB Greedy Vance, T Dalton Wagner and S JT Woods, WR Alex Bachman, S Terrell Edmunds and TE Albert Okwuegbunam while Lonnie Johnson Jr. was placed on the injured list and designated for return.

The front office also waived DT Pheldarius Payne and officially signed undrafted free agent RB Ulysses Bentley IV. Mafi and Payne could find their way back to the Colts’ practice squad at some point.

Mafi (6’3/329) was a 3-star recruit, and the 88th-ranked Defensive Tackle in the 2018 recruiting class, from San Mateo, California, according to 247 Sports. Much like the running back he was blocking for, Michigan transfer Zach Charbonnet, Mafi is sometimes misunderstood as a one-trick pony, as he is so much more than a simple physical mauler on the interior. He has a nuanced understanding of tools that scare defensive linemen from his days as a Defensive Tackle early in his college career. The Second Team All-Pac-12 OG brought along his mean streak and his finishing ability from the other side of the ball and has improved his technique every year since converting. Nevertheless, a power-heavy team will take on Mafi as a project who may see consistent reps a couple of years from now. But, when he eventually does get the nod, he will be headhunting defensive linemen with gusto.