Buy or Sell: Oakland Raiders vs. Carolina Panthers
By Austin Gayle
Clive Walford’s Role Should Continue to Expand
Buy.
With backup offensive linemen Menelik Watson and Denver Kirkland seeing snaps at tight end to give Oakland’s offense added help when run blocking and in pass protection, some have lost sight of 2015 third-round pick Clive Walford.
Beneath a positive light, the former University of Miami (Fla.) product made his way back into the eyes of the Raider Nation with his efforts against Carolina.
Walford brought in just three of four targets for 43 yards, but he turned his final two receptions of the affair into career defining moments.
Trailing by eight points in the fourth quarter, Carr converted a long third down attempt with a 14-yard pass to Walford to extend the Raiders’ comeback efforts and push their offense inside the red zone. Just one snap later, Walford bested his defender in the air for a 12-yard score, allowing Oakland to ultimately tie the contest with a successful two-point conversion.
Previously knocked for his inconsistent hands, Walford has experienced his fair share of scrutiny within his sophomore season with Oakland, but he assuredly landed on the Raider Nation’s good side after his heroic efforts, leaving the door open for his role to expand towards the end of the season.