Editor’s note: CSNBayArea.com will provide daily content previewing the NFL draft, including position breakdowns, news stories, mock drafts and more. Here, he analyzes draft prospects at tight end, and whether the Raiders should select one.
The Raiders needed help at tight end last year and got it. They added blocker Lee Smith in free agency and drafted Clive Walford in the third round. That transformed the position group, supplementing a weak area with Mychal Rivera as a lone incumbent strength.
Undrafted rookie Gabe Holmes was a fourth tight end on the 53-man roster, rendered inactive each time after being forced to promote him after someone tried to poach off the practice squad.