Oakland Raiders: Projected 53-man depth chart for 2019 before OTAs
Tight Ends
Darren Waller, Luke Willson, Foster Moreau (3)
Surprises: None
Notable Omissions: None
The Raiders tight end stable takes a step backward compared to last year. Jared Cook led the group and the offense in receiving yards (896) and touchdowns (six) in 2018. Now, he’s in New Orleans, and Gruden seems deeply interested in Waller, per Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Jon Gruden on TE Jared Cook: “It’s sickening to think we lost that guy. ...Darren Waller is very interesting. We’re going to give him a chance of a lifetime.” Raiders expected to draft a tight end next month.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 26, 2019
Even though he’s inexperienced, Waller makes sense as a direct replacement for Cook. He played wide receiver on the collegiate level, grabbing 51 catches for 971 yards and nine touchdowns through three terms at Georgia Tech.
Waller transitioned from wideout to tight end during the 2016 campaign with the Ravens. The league suspended him for at least one year for violating the substance-abuse policy. Baltimore waived and then added him to the practice squad. The Raiders signed the 26-year old from that group in November.
Faced with a great opportunity to lead the tight end unit, Waller can flash his receiving skills and earn Carr’s trust on the field. At 6-6, 255 pounds, he’s not short on physical tools, and there’s upside in his game.
Still, Waller is a raw talent at tight end. He’s not going to become a complete player overnight, but the Raiders can use Moreau to offset blocking inefficiencies at the position. LSU’s offensive game plan may have suppressed Moreau’s pass-catching ability, but it’s clear Waller will have priority in the passing game.
Willson provides a veteran presence to the group, which is needed after the team cut ties with Lee Smith in May. The six-year veteran has 102 receptions for 1,216 yards and 11 touchdowns.