FanPost

TE position?


What are the Raiders doing at the TE position?

It appears Jared Cook looks set to sign for New Orleans (someone is quick off the mark on Wiki), maybe he is looking for a major payday, coming off his best season receiving. Anyway it seems too rich for Mayock, so it seems certain he's gone, unless the Saints do a 180° and his price falls considerably

So what are the Raiders options?

1. Go with Darren Waller, Lee Smith and Derek Carrier.

Carrier has been a disappointment so far, not the receiving threat we hoped for, he got limited snaps, so it appears Gruden is not high on him.

Lee Smith is principally a blocking TE, and at that he is very good. So a big plus for the run. However his presence on the field advertises a run. He has the ability to catch the odd ball and has a TD or 2 to his name, where he slides in under the defenses radar.

Darren Waller has potentially got the lot, he has protypical size, is a decent blocker and has good hands. He is the possible gem in this bunch. The question is, can we rely on him in terms of his personal demons? In the recent past he has a perchance for the odd recreational substance or two., which has resulted in suspension. Can we rely on him being clean? Because if he is, he could be the answer.

2. Use one of our first 4 picks on a TE?

TJ Hockenson seems to be the best TE in this draft. He is the best blocking TE some commentators have said that they have ever evaluated. Couple that with good receiving ability and its possible a team will have the next Gronk.

The problem is, it seems to be #8 to #15 as to where his value is. So we would have to trade down and ignore Edge for our first pick or trade up and use some capital for our later picks.

Noah Fant, is a receiving TE with little blocking skills. However he is a match up nightmare and could be lined up almost anywhere and be DC's best mate underneath. Some question his character, he is known to be on the immature side, does that red flag Gruden's complicated play book? I have seen Fant's value anywhere from #10 to the top of the 2nd, so he could be in play with our later picks.

Irwin Smith jnr, is a receiving TE with some reasonable blocking skills. For blocking he is better in space. He seems to do everything well, but nothing outstandingly well, his value for us is at the back of the 1st or top of the 2nd.

3. We wait for Cooks value to drop significantly if he doesn't sign for the Saints.?

Where do you go for sorting out our TE position?