Oakland Raiders: 7-Round 2019 mock draft with three weeks to go
By Cory Kinnan
Round 1, Pick 24: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
As previously mentioned, Derek Carr’s favorite receiver and Oakland’s starting tight end, Cook, left in free agency to the Saints, and so the Raiders are in need of another weapon to plug in to their offense. With the 24th pick, Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson manages to slip to the Raiders and they find their replacement for Cook here near the end of the first round.
Already adding wide receivers Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams in the month of March, the Raiders look to get Carr, or whomever will be playing quarterback in 2019 for Oakland, a new shiny toy to play with.
Hockenson is one of two tight ends from the University of Iowa expected to go in the first round, and there may not be a better situation for him than Oakland, where he can play in the seam with Brown and Williams taking away any threat of a double team from him.
Hockenson is both a great run blocker and receiver, giving any offense a key piece for their future to take advantage of linebackers and safeties. If Hockenson manages to fall to the 24th pick, expect him to become a Raider and become their day-one starter at the tight end position.