5 Raiders that benefit most from Todd Downing offense

Last year, the Raiders offense was dynamic thanks to great play from Carr, the offensive line, the wide receivers and even the running game with Latavius Murray. However, tight end play for the Raiders was largely hit and miss. Since the tight end position is becoming increasingly important in the overall health of an NFL offense, Oakland made big signing in getting Jared Cook this offseason.

A big reason that he wanted to come of the Bay Area was to play in this offense of Downing’s. Of course, it’s not a bad thing to have the closest thing the AFC has to Aaron Rodgers in Carr slinging him passes. After watching Downing call two preseason games, Raider Nation has to be excited about the increased importance of the tight ends in the passing game.

Cook is the most physically gifted of the three tight ends that will presumably make the team. He has elite speed for an NFL tight end, being able to create mismatches in the receiving game. While Cook has never been a true dynamo in the passing game, he’s usually good for about 500 yards and a few scores a season in a worst case scenario.

However, he only has had one season of elite quarterback play getting him the ball. That was last year and Cook made one of the greatest catches in Packers football history in the NFC Divisional Round game against the Cowboys. If Cook somehow becomes a 1,000-yard receiver in the Silver and Black, we’d have to credit Downing’s brilliance as a play caller.