ALAMEDA, Calif. _ The Raiders lost one weapon Thursday but picked up another with the signing of Green Bay tight end Jared Cook.
Cook, 29, gives quarterback Derek Carr an imposing target in the middle of the field at 6-foot-5, 254 pounds. He caught 30 passes for 377 yards and a touchdown in 10 games with five starts for the Packers as he dealt with a high ankle sprain.
The deal was first reported by NFL Media, citing a two-year, $12.2 million contract. The Raiders later confirmed the signing.
An eight-year veteran, Cook played four seasons with the Tennessee Titans and three with the St. Louis Rams before joining the Packers.
Cook's presence made a significant difference in the fortunes of the Packers last season. In games in which Cook played, the Packers were 8-2 and averaged 28.4 points per game. When Cook was out Weeks 5 through 10, the Packers were 2- 4 and averaged 24.7.
"I think Jared's return has been important, giving us two tight ends that can get downfield," quarterback Aaron Rodgers told ESPN.com in December. "Obviously, he's a match-up issue when you split him out to one side, as we've seen in various games."
Cook was at his best in the post season, catching 18 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in three games, including a six-catch, 103-yard effort with a touchdown in a 34-31 win over Dallas.
For his career, Cook has 303 receptions for 3,880 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Clive Walford, in his second season out of Miami, led Raiders tight ends with 32 receptions for 359 yards and three touchdowns. Walford, injured last off-season in an ATV accident, did not appear to fully healthy and was plagued by dropped passes.
Mychal Rivera, an unrestricted free agent, caught 18 passes for 192 yards but is primarily a receiving tight end. Blocking tight end Lee Smith remains on the roster.
Cook's addition comes on the heels of the Raiders losing leading rusher Latavius Murray to the Minnesota Vikings. He is the third offensive player added to the roster, joining tackle Marshall Newhouse and wide receiver and return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson.
