Oakland Raiders: Big names to avoid during 2019 NFL free agency

Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

There’s a very good chance the Raiders will need help at tight end this offseason. With Jared Cook headed for free agency and very likely to price himself out of Gruden’s comfort zone, they’ll be forced to look elsewhere for playmakers at one of their top offensive positions of need.

Unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of proven options set to be available this offseason. The only other noteworthy name besides Cook is Tyler Eifert. However, the Raiders would be wise to avoid him with a 10-foot pole.

Why? Well if you know anything about Eifert’s history, then it should be an easy one to figure out.

From a pure talent standpoint, Eifert is verging on star status. He’s an excellent athlete with reliable hands and a nose for the end zone. As it so happens, the guy is simply incapable of staying healthy for more than a few games. Since 2016, he’s played in only 14 games, with most of his seasons ending with a trip to the Injured Reserve.

On the surface, he’s a tantalizing talent. And yet, unless the Raiders can get him for dirt cheap, he’s not worth the risk. They’d be better off spending the money and bringing back Cook, as I’ve already suggested they do.