As the Raiders prepare to take the field for their second minicamp practice, we hit 88 days until their season opener in Tennessee. As per usual we profile the man wearing that jersey in Silver & Black.
TE Clive Walford
Entering his third season with the team, Walford is still looking to live up the hopes the team had in him as a third round pick out of Miami. He has put up 688 yards and 6 touchdowns over two seasons.
Injuries have disrupted both of his first two seasons. The first happened in pre-camp warm-up as a rookie and the other happened in an ATV accident last offseason.
He has had a full offseason healthy so far which gives him his best chance to contribute. However, this offseason the team signed free agent Jared Cook who has stepped into the starting role ahead of Walford.
The bright side is this takes some pressure off Walford to be the guy. He can work with Cook in two tight end sets and have the opportunity to prove he can be a long term solution.
Who wore it best: TE Raymond Chester (1970-72, 78-81)
Chester was originally a first round draft pick by the Raiders in 1970, was sent to Baltimore in trade, and later came back. In his second stint with the team, he helped the Raiders win their second Super Bowl following the 1980 season. That same year AC/DC released their hit song Back in Black. Quite fitting for Chester's career arc. That song has become somewhat of a theme song for the Raiders since then as well.
Chester actually preceded AND followed Hall of Fame tight end Dave Casper with the Raiders. Chester was a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons in Oakland. He then spent five seasons in Baltimore, returning in 1978 and was promptly named to another Pro Bowl. It was pretty clear, even being a Baltimore native, Chester belonged in Oakland. He would retire just before the team left for Los Angeles.
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