After putting together a Pro Bowl caliber season, veteran tight end Jared Cook decided to leave the team via free agency, signing with the New Orleans Saints. Unfortunately, he signed with the NFC powerhouse late into the free agency process, leaving the cupboard bare for the Raiders.
Heading into training camp, it’s pretty easy to make the case that the tight end position is, by far, the weakest on the roster. That is why many believe the team could make a move before the start of the season.
In a recent piece by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, he named the one move every team needs to make before the start of the 2019 season. For the Raiders, he suggested adding a veteran tight end to the mix. Take a look at Knox’s thoughts on the tight end position as a whole for Oakland.
The Oakland Raiders lost Pro Bowl tight end Jared Cook in free agency, which leaves them thin at the position. The good news is that the team appears to be confident in tight end Darren Waller, who is entering his fourth year after missing 2017 because of a suspension.
The bad news is there is little depth behind Waller aside from rookie fourth-round pick Foster Moreau. The Raiders can address this by signing a veteran free agent such as Dion Sims, Antonio Gates or Lance Kendricks (who could face league discipline for marijuana possession) by seeking a trade or sorting through the preseason cut pile.
Unfortunately, there just aren’t many quality tight ends on the free agent market or that could be available via trade. It’s unlikely the Chargers would move on from their future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates as Knox suggested. Oakland is more likely to let Darren Waller “fail” at the position before trading for a veteran. Don’t expect the Raiders to make any rash moves at the position any time soon.
