Raiders 53-man roster projection after preseason game No. 2

By Brad Weiss | Aug 20, 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 18: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders coaches from the sideline during the first half of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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Tight End (3): Jared Cook, Lee Smith, Derek Carrier

The key for the tight end group this preseason is to stay healthy, as the trio of Jared Cook, Lee Smith, and Derek Carrier will be counted on big time in Gruden’s offense in 2018. All three men bring a little something different to the table, but each will have a specific role to fill moving forward.

Cook led the Raiders in receiving yards last season, and if that happens again, something went very wrong. Both Smith and Carrier are excellent blockers, and in a Jon Gruden-run offense, the tight ends have to be able to go and get someone, which those two men both have no problem doing.

Despite the fact Cook, Smith, and Carrier are locks to make the 53-man roster, the leading receiver for the Raiders this summer has actually been Paul Butler. However, there is no way Butler makes the team, but he definitely has a chance to hang on as a member of the practice squad.

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