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Power ranking the Oakland Raiders biggest 2019 NFL Draft needs

By Justin Fried

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 09: Arden Key #99 of the Oakland Raiders puts the pass pressure on quarterback Joshua Dobbs #5 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 09: Arden Key #99 of the Oakland Raiders puts the pass pressure on quarterback Joshua Dobbs #5 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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2019 NFL Draft
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 4: Luke Willson #82 of the Detroit Lions is tackled with the ball after making a catch in the fourth quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Oakland Raiders 2019 NFL Draft (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

2. Tight End

The Raiders have done a very good job of acquiring a slew of pass-catchers to help out quarterback Derek Carr (barring any sort of draft-day stunner). The acquisitions of Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, and J.J. Nelson give Oakland an excellent trio of wideouts to set the tone for the team’s skill position players.

Unfortunately, the tight end position has been downgraded immensely in the process.

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Last season, the Raiders were paced in all three major receiving categories by tight end Jared Cook who finished with 896 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 68 receptions. However, Cook has since departed via free agency leaving the team without a starting option at the position.

Receiving tight end Darren Waller and blocking specialist Lee Smith return but neither are obviously good starting candidates. The team signed Luke Willson away from the Detroit Lions in free agency but the former Seattle Seahawks draft pick has yet to top 22 receptions in any of his six NFL seasons.

This leaves the Raiders with a collection of backups at a position the team relied on last year. If Carr is to remain the team’s starting quarterback, it would be wise to give him a reliable tight end target as he has typically been quite fond of the position in the past.

A pair of Iowa tight ends — T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant — could be targets but there’s no guarantee that either is still available in the back half of the first round. If not Alabama’s Irv Smith Jr., Texas A&M’s Jace Sternberger, and Utah State’s Dax Raymond could all be feasible options.

Regardless, it’s apparent that something needs to be done.

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