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Raiders 53-man roster projection after the preseason finale

By Brad Weiss

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)
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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OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 19: JaredCook No. 87 of the Oakland Raiders makes a catch at the one-yard line of the Kansas City Chiefs in the final moments of their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 19: JaredCook No. 87 of the Oakland Raiders makes a catch at the one-yard line of the Kansas City Chiefs in the final moments of their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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

The Raiders will open the 2018 with three solid tight ends, and they have really not had much competition all summer long. Jared Cook, Lee Smith, and Derek Carrier will all be on the 53-man roster, and they each bring a little something different to the table.

In Cook, they have that pass-catching tight end that every team needs in today’s NFL. He led the Raiders in receiving yards last season, but in 2018, that certainly will not be the case again, and if it is, then something went very wrong for Derek Carr and the rest of the offense.

Smith and Carrier are excellent blocking tight ends, and Gruden loves having guys at the tight end position who go out and find people to block. They are going to play a big role in the running game this season, as the Raiders look to be more efficient on the ground this Fall. The trio is as good as it gets in the AFC West.

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