Oakland Raiders Send Clear Message To Clive Walford

The Oakland Raiders signed tight end Jared Cook, which adds pressure on Clive Walford to deliver. So what should we expect from Walford in his third season?

It came across in a subtle way, but the Oakland Raiders front office put Clive Walford on notice with a recent acquisition. He’s going into his third season, but lost his spot as the clear-cut No. 1 tight end on the depth chart.

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The team signed tight end Jared Cook, who’s expected to take on a decent role within the offense. He’s not coming in to take a backseat similar to Mychal Rivera over the past two years. Despite Walford’s underwhelming numbers, Rivera remained an afterthought within the passing attack.

Offensive coordinator Todd Downing praised Cook for his ability to come up huge in big moments, per San Jose Mercury News reporter Jerry McDonald.

“He’s got a skill set that’s going to be fun to play with so we’re excited to see what he can do and I know Derek (Carr) is excited to add him,” said Downing. “He’s got a history of making plays in this league and it’s something we’re excited to have.”

This doesn’t mean Downing will toss Walford to side, but it’s clear that Cook will have more opportunities than Rivera within the offense.

During the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix, general manager Reggie McKenzie revealed telling information, which explains the team’s interest in a veteran tight end, per San Francisco Chronicle reporter Vic Tafur:

When did you ever hear about a spirited competition between Walford and Rivera over the past two years? The Miami product sat in the driver’s seat as the future at the tight end position once the Raiders selected him in the third round of the 2015 draft. The team understood Rivera’s limitations as a blocker and Lee Smith’s shortcomings as a receiver. Walford projected a dynamic asset equipped to handle both duties.

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Unfortunately, a nagging hamstring injury forced Walford to miss several training camp practices during his rookie year. Then, an ATV accident during the previous offseason likely hindered his overall ability during his sophomore campaign. McKenzie alluded to this in his comments above pertaining to the tight end position.

The Raiders will undoubtedly speak about Walford with the utmost confidence in his abilities. However, the decision to sign a veteran tight end as prime competition says the team has its reservations about the third-year pro reaching his full potential.

Walford and Cook have contracts that expire after the 2018 season, per Spotrac. The 2015 third-round pick must put together showout performances to raise his free-agent market value. Heightened production would also give the team reasons to believe he’s the future at the position.

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In two seasons, Walford has shown glimpses as a pass-catcher, but he fell behind wide receiver Seth Roberts by 25 targets in the passing game for the 2016 season. With Cook in the mix, it’ll be difficult for the 25-year-old tight end to surpass his 50-target mark from the past season. The Raiders will see if Walford rises above the competition or remains inconsistent as an average player within a booming offense.