Not a lot went right for the Raiders’ offense in 2018. Derek Carr took a step backward as did the offensive line. The receiver corps fell apart, and the run game suffered, as well. However, one of the bright spots from the Raiders last season was the play of their tight ends, specifically, Jared Cook and Lee Smith.
Cook made the first Pro Bowl of his career as he set career highs in receptions (68), receiving yards (896) and touchdowns (6). Cook finished fourth in receiving yards for tight ends, just behind George Kittle, Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz.
Cook’s teammate, Lee Smith, also had an excellent year for the Raiders. While he didn’t play as many snaps as his teammate (284), Lee was one of the most well-rounded blockers in the NFL. He caught just 10 passes for 73 yards, but he makes for the perfect complement to Cook. Together, Cook and Smith graded as two of the top three tight ends in the AFC West, according to Pro Football Focus.
While both tight ends are in the 30s, they make for a dynamic pair for the Raiders. Oakland would be wise to keep both of these players under contract for the next few seasons as they clearly work well together.
