Post-Draft Depth Chart
Most NFL teams, including the Raiders, carry three tight ends on their roster. Given Jon Gruden’s love for the position, we may see the Raiders roll in to 2020 with four on the roster if they can contribute on special teams.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at what the Raiders tight end depth chart looks like after the 2020 NFL Draft.
- Darren Waller
- Jason Witten
- Foster Moreau
- Derek Carrier
- Nick O’Leary
- Nick Bowers
Darren Waller and Jason Witten are 100% locks to make the roster given their status and Foster Moreau is all but a certainty after his stellar rookie season. This trio gives the Raiders one of the most dangerous groups of receiving tight ends in the NFL and Jon Gruden is definitely in the lab cooking up some formations with all 3 being deployed.
Derek Carrier was the Raiders most active special teamer, leading the team in special teams snap counts in 2019. That may be enough to lock him in to a roster spot along with any fears the team might have about Witten’s age catching up to him.
That leaves Nick O’Leary and Nick Bowers on the outside looking in. O’Leary’s experience and his ability as a blocking tight end but might see him land a spot but given the talent on the position he should expect to continue bouncing around the league. Nick Bowers may intrigue Gruden and Mike Mayock but he looks to be a practice squad player at best for the Raiders.
The Raiders made it a priority to surround Derek Carr with superior offensive talent and they have done so by bolstering the tight end position and giving him experienced weapons at a key position.